Spokane Valley woman dies in crash; driver faces charges

A Fairfield man faces criminal charges after he allegedly struck an oncoming car in Valleyford on Thursday night, killing its passenger.

William Ross, 37, will be charged with vehicular homicide after he attempted to pass a truck on State Route 27, crossing a double-yellow line in his Chevy Silverado and striking a Ford Taurus heading in the opposite direction, according to Washington State Patrol.

Polly Burland, 66, of Spokane Valley, was a passenger in the oncoming car. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 72-year-old Richard Soleta, was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center with unspecified injuries. Both live in Spokane Valley.

Ross was uninjured in the crash, which occurred at about 10 p.m. just south of Gibbs Road. Alcohol or drugs are believed to play a role, according to WSP.