After car kills pedestrian on Sunset Highway, multiple cars crash into crime scene

A car struck and killed a pedestrian Saturday evening in Browne’s Addition, leaving the impaired driver of the vehicle under arrest for vehicular homicide.

While police investigated the scene, two more cars crashed nearby.

Robert Findley, 24, hit a pedestrian at Sunset Highway and Cannon Street around 7:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Spokane Police Department.

The release said the man who was struck sustained life-threatening injuries and later died at a local hospital.

Police shut down Sunset Highway between Cannon and Coeur d’Alene streets for several hours to investigate. They used large reflective barriers, glowing red road flares and parked police vehicles with their emergency lights on, indicating the closure to passing motorists.

One driver ran over the barricades on the west side of the collision scene, causing mangled barricades and other debris to be strewn into the street, police said. Moments later, another car ran over the debris, puncturing the vehicle’s gas tank.

A tow truck was called to tend to the vehicle with the ruptured fuel tank, but police and fire resources were also needed.

A short time later, another vehicle drove around the barricades and police cars with their emergency lights on, toward the initial crime scene where investigators were still working, police said.

The driver eventually was stopped and arrested for driving under the influence. Tests showed the man had a blood alcohol content that was about 2½ times the legal limit, police said.

Police asked motorists to be attentive to road closures, which increase safety for everyone.