AUBURN — A car rear-ended a semi-truck parked on the shoulder of southbound Highway 167 about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday in Auburn, killing the driver of the car at the scene.
He was identified by the Washington State Patrol as Kin D. Beliakoff, 29, of Bremerton.
There was no one else in the car. The truck driver, who had pulled over to look at directions, was unhurt.
Bellevue: Troopers say driver exceeded 135 mph on bridge
Washington State Patrol troopers arrested a 24-year-old Bellevue man they say was zooming across the Highway 520 floating bridge at speeds estimated at more than 135 mph.
Trooper Dan McDonald said Vladislav O. Orlovskii was arrested for investigation of drunken driving and reckless driving.
The first trooper spotted the speeding BMW about 1 a.m. Saturday heading east on the bridge, which has a posted speed limit of 50 mph. McDonald said the BMW was still pulling away when that trooper reached speeds of 130 mph. He slowed when the chase became dangerous but another trooper farther east was able to stop the BMW on an exit ramp in Medina.
McDonald said the driver offered no explanation for why he was traveling so fast.
Orlovskii posted bail and was released from jail a few hours after his arrest.
Yakima: Slain arcade employee named; arrest made
A 70-year-old employee of an adult business was found dead early Tuesday on the floor of the store in Yakima.
Police said he apparently had been struck in the face and died of head injuries at the Yakima Arcade. The victim was identified as Edward C. Foster.
Sgt. Tony Bennett said later Tuesday that police have arrested a 28-year-old man.
Bellingham: Today might be a ‘sun day’
If the sun is shining and temperatures are balmy today, the forecast at Bellingham Christian School could call for no classes.
In a note, Principal Bob Sampson said the planned Sun Day is to “celebrate an exceptionally nice day of the spring season, to promote positive school culture and just for fun.”
Sampson noted school can be canceled for bad weather, so why not for fabulous weather?
Because the school lost no days to snow last winter, the principal said it can afford to take a spring day off.
A posting on the school’s Web page notes today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and 63 degrees.
Seattle: UW professor foresees even more warming woe
University of Washington scientist Peter Ward believes global warming from civilization’s release of carbon dioxide will be faster and cause more worldwide flooding than some others expect.
The professor of earth and space sciences lays out scenarios for a changing planet in a book scheduled for publication this summer by Basic Books, “The Flooded Earth: Our Future in a World Without Ice Caps.”
Ward writes that if the ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica melt, not only would cities such as Miami and Venice disappear, but countries such as the Netherlands and Bangladesh would be covered with water.
Colville: Counselor admits to molesting
A 59-year-old man who served as a psychologist for the Colville School District and volunteered with police to help investigate child abuse has pleaded guilty to molesting a student.
In addition to first-degree child molestation, Craig L. Figley pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after images of young boys were found on his school computer.
Stevens County prosecutor Tim Rasmussen said the plea agreement allows authorities to bring additional charges if new victims are discovered.
Sentencing is set for May 10, with prosecutors recommending about 13 years behind bars.
Figley was a member of a multidisciplinary team that helped coordinate law enforcement investigations of child abuse.
Defense lawyer Jim Irwin had no comment following Tuesday’s court hearing.
Spokane: Two escape early morning house fire
Two people escaped an early morning fire that destroyed a mobile home just west of Spokane.
Fire District No. 10 Chief Nick Scharff said the flames were through the roof when firefighters arrived about 4 a.m. Tuesday on property being used to ranch about 10 horses.
The Spokesman-Review reported a smoke detector apparently alerted the residents and they were not injured.
A pet dog inside the home did not survive.
Oregon: Mount Hood snowboarder dies
An 18-year-old snowboarder was found dead on Mount Hood about an hour after he was reported missing by friends.
A spokesman for the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said Levi Krukowski of Portland had been snowboarding late Monday afternoon in the Heather Canyon area of the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort.
After he was reported missing, the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Patrol found Krukowski’s body partially submerged in a creek near the bottom of a waterfall.
Sheriff’s spokesman Detective Matt English said the creek was within a hazard area and gaining access would require crossing a rope boundary.
The death is being investigated as an accident, but an autopsy is scheduled for today.
Blast injures man in pub’s soaking pool
A firecracker or some other explosive device injured a man in a soaking pool at McMenamins Old St. Francis School brewery pub in Bend.
Police said the man and his wife and two other people were in the pool Monday night when he picked up an object in the water. Before he could throw it away, it blew up in his hand, causing some cuts.
He was treated by paramedics.
Police said they have no suspects.
From Herald news services
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