News Bites for Jan. 30, 2024
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 9 months AGO
Moses Lake Police Animal Control Officer Jimmy Reyna shows off dog and cat food donated to the department by the Animal Rescue Friends of Grant County and Pawsitive Alliance for homeless pets.
COURTESY PHOTO/CITY OF MOSES LAKE
EPHRATA — An Ephrata man died Sunday night after a one-vehicle collision near Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Gabriel O'Neel, 44, was driving a 2003 Dodge Caravan at high speed north on Road A Northwest around 9:30 p.m., according to the statement. O’Neel apparently attempted to turn west onto Road 12.3 Northwest when his van struck a large boulder, vaulted and landed off the road on its side. First responders extricated O'Neel from the van and attempted life-saving measures, but he died at the scene. O’Neel was not wearing a seat belt, according to the statement.
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Fire Department issued a reminder Thursday that residents should maintain their smoke alarms in good working order.
The MLFD’s reminder included these figures:
• Smoke alarms were present in 74% of reported home fires in 2014-18.
• Three out of five deaths happen in homes with no working smoke alarms, perhaps because batteries have been pulled or the devices are too old to function properly.
• The risk of dying in a house fire is 55% lower in homes with working smoke alarms.
• Power source issues such as batteries or power outage were the primary reason for smoke alarm failure.
• Of fire fatalities that occurred in homes with working smoke alarms, 22% were alerted by the device but failed to respond due to mobility issues, drug or alcohol intoxication, et cetera, while 11% were not alerted by the operating alarms at all.
EPHRATA — A Grant County Sheriff’s deputy sustained only minor injuries in a single-vehicle collision late Saturday night, according to a statement from Sheriff Joe Kriete.
Deputy Trevor Jones had just cleared a traffic stop when he received a radio call for a domestic disturbance north of Moses Lake, according to the statement. Jones reportedly responded to the call and was driving on Westover Boulevard, lost situational awareness and drove through the T-intersection at Westover Boulevard and Owen Road. Jones’ vehicle struck the curb and came to rest in a field.
Jones was treated at Samaritan Hospital and released, the statement said. The cause was reported to be inattention, compounded by low visibility due to foggy weather conditions. The Moses Lake Police Department is investigating the incident.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.