Collision kills 80-year-old
A Greenacres woman died in a car crash near the Spokane International Airport on Friday afternoon.
Lavina Aletta Lebahn failed to stop at the intersection of Spotted Road and Airport Road, according to the Washington State Patrol. Her 1997 Honda Accord collided with a 2002 Ford Econovan driven by Amanda Mae Clark, 27, of Spokane.
Lebahn, 80, died at the scene of the 5 p.m. crash. The other driver was not injured.
Rash of accidents clogs Interstate 90
Multiple crashes left Interstate 90 backed up for more than five miles in both directions Friday afternoon. The Washington State Patrol estimated that 40 cars were involved in the crashes, which began around 3 p.m.
There were at least four multicar crashes on westbound I-90 at Havana Street, blocking one lane.
Westbound I-90 at Sprague Avenue had three multicar accidents, blocking two lanes.
Three multicar accidents blocked two lanes on I-90 at Broadway Avenue.
Two lanes were blocked on eastbound I-90 at Thor and Freya streets because of crashes.
There were no serious injuries in any of the incidents.
The State Patrol offered no causes for the sudden increase of mishaps. A brief hailstorm struck parts of the county Friday afternoon, but the State Patrol did not indicate that weather contributed to the incidents.
Suspect arrested in exposures
Spokane police arrested a man suspected of indecent exposure at the Gonzaga University campus on at least four occasions since November, according to a press release.
Steven J. Snedden, 42, is charged with second-degree burglary with sexual motivation in connection with the most recent incident on March 5. In that case, a woman studying at the Gonzaga Law Library reported that a man exposed himself.
Witnesses reported similar activity in each of the previous cases, said Spokane police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee.
The burglary charge was filed because Snedden has been contacted in previous years on the Gonzaga campus and given official trespass notices that prohibited him from returning, Lee said.
Snedden, who is homeless, has nine previous convictions in four states for either lewd conduct or indecent exposure, according to the release.
Firearms missing after burglary
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is looking for seven firearms stolen in a burglary earlier this month near the Larsen housing area northwest of Moses Lake.
Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with the March 7 burglary, but no firearms were recovered.
Sheriff’s spokesman John Turley said the juveniles thought to have been involved in the burglary may be associated with the gang Poco Loco SUR 13.
Community members who live in the Larsen housing area and see suspicious activity are asked to call (509) 762-1160.
SEATTLE
15 gallons of oil spill on Elliott Bay
About 15 gallons of oil spread over one square mile of Seattle’s Elliott Bay on Friday, most likely from a source on or near Harbor Island, the Coast Guard said.
Petty Officer Kurt Fredrickson said the oil was too thinly spread to be removed by absorbent pads, but booms were placed around an area on the west side of Harbor Island.
The source of the pollution had not been determined.
There was no sign of damage to wildlife from the sheen, nor did it appear to have reached the shore.
From staff and wire reports