In brief: Motorcycle crash victims hospitalized

A motorcycle crashed into the rear of an SUV Wednesday night, causing serious injuries to the two people on the motorcycle and forcing officials to close westbound Interstate 90 for about three hours.

The crash occurred at 8:03 p.m. near the Altamont exit of I-90, according to the Washington State Patrol. Traffic had to be rerouted until just after 11 p.m.

Tamara A. Tucker, 30, of Newport, was driving a 1999 GMC Suburban westbound when she was hit from behind by a 2001 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by 37-year-old David L. Burgess, of Spokane Valley.

Also on the motorcycle was Dana A. Hartman, 38, of Liberty Lake. When the motorcycle struck the Suburban, it went left and hit a barrier. Burgess and Hartman were ejected and suffered serious injuries, according to the WSP.

Both were transported to Deaconess Medical Center. The WSP listed DUI as the cause of the crash, and charges could be pending against Burgess for vehicular assault.

Burgess was listed in critical condition Thursday, and Hartman was in satisfactory condition, according to a nursing supervisor at Deaconess.

Short chase ends in yard, arrest

Spokane police arrested a man Thursday morning on suspicion of DUI after a short chase that ended with the driver hitting a house.

Officers were on a call near Hamilton Street and Sharp Avenue just after midnight when they witnessed an intoxicated person get into the driver’s seat of a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am, Officer David Daddato said.

Before the officers could contact the man, he drove northbound on Hamilton. The two officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop at the intersection with Indiana Avenue, but the driver allegedly accelerated eastbound.

The driver took several turns and increased speed to about 55 mph on a residential street, Daddato said.

As the driver approached Ruby Street, he attempted to drive northbound on the southbound arterial. Instead, he lost control and hit a 3-foot chain link fence. The car went into the front yard of a residence and hit a water line.

The officers detained the driver on charges of DUI and eluding arrest. The driver, identified as 44-year-old Robert Darin Searcy, also was found to be driving with a suspended driver’s license, Daddato said.