PORTLAND, Ore. – A 31-year-old Vancouver, Wash., man caused a fatal collision by driving the wrong way on Interstate 205 early Monday morning, according to Portland police.
According to police, Vladimir Shintar was speeding northbound in a silver minivan in the southbound lanes of the freeway in Portland about 1:30 a.m. Monday. He struck a burgundy minivan driven by Jing Fang, 54, of Portland, detective Paul Dolbey said.
Fang’s passenger, Su Fang, 47, of Portland died at the scene. Su Fang was apparently Jing Fang’s wife, but police were not able to confirm their relationship.
Two bystanders pulled Shintar out of his minivan just before it burst into flames. He was in serious condition Monday afternoon. Jing Fang was also injured and was listed in serious condition.
Officers who responded said Shintar smelled strongly of liquor, leading investigators to believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The Columbian
Vancouver, Wash.: School arson reward
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered to catch whoever has been setting fires at and around Evergreen High School the past three weeks.
Since Jan. 23, eight arsons have occurred, said Jim Flaherty, a spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department. So far, no one has been injured and there has been only minor damage to buildings.
“Just because nobody’s been hurt at this point doesn’t mean injuries and fatalities are not a possibility,” Flaherty said.
The fires have been started late at night or in the early morning hours, Flaherty said Monday.
The Columbian
Kirkland: $10,000 reward in park arsons
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that helps catch the arsonist who reduced the toddler slide at King County’s Big Finn Hill Park near Kirkland to a heap of melted plastic.
The Jan. 30 fire was the second incident of arson at the park in the past year, and at least one county official thinks it could be related to last week’s arson at two Finn Hill schools. One of those fires, which remain under investigation, destroyed a portable classroom at Finn Hill Junior High School.
Last summer, someone attempted to set fire to the concession stand in the park. In 2003, another arson leveled the playground equipment. The slide destroyed in January was part of the replacement equipment following that fire.
King County Journal
Castle Rock: Deputies find ‘stolen stuff’ note
When Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant Sunday at the home of burglary suspect Gerald Levertt Mack, they found a note posted inside the house:
“Do not open door &let anyone in! Stolen Stuff visable.”
Sure enough, deputies found stolen items, said chief criminal deputy Charlie Rosenzweig.
“Nothing like helping us figure out what’s going on,” he said.
Deputies have been going through the recovered loot, which includes at least 17 guns, antiques, furniture, jewelry and credit cards, and had confirmed 12 victims as of Monday, Rosenzweig said.
The Daily News
Seattle: Iraqi Kurd ordered deported
An Iraqi Kurd who federal authorities say tried to help a senior al-Qaida operative gain entry to the United States was ordered deported Tuesday.
Immigration Judge Kenneth Josephson found that Sam Malkandi of Kirkland lied on his 1998 asylum application when he said he had been imprisoned in Iran for possessing forbidden political materials.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators say that in 2003, Malkandi tried to help Tawfiq bin Attash obtain a U.S. visa. Bin Attash, a former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden, is suspected of helping plan the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000 and the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
Malkandi has adamantly denied knowingly assisting bin Attash.
Associated Press
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
