SPOKANE -- Two East Valley High School girls were seriously injured Tuesday afternoon when the 16-year-old lost control of the Chevrolet sport utility vehicle she was driving and swerved off the roadway and into a large steel power pole.
The Trailblazer struck the pole broadside, trapping both girls inside the SUV. The 17-year-old passenger took the brunt of the crash and was airlifted to a downtown trauma center. The driver was transported by ambulance.
Both were listed in serious but stable condition at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit at 6 p.m.
The crash occurred in the 19600 block of East Wellesley about 1:10 p.m. Tuesday. The girls were eastbound and had just exited Trent onto Wellesley.
As the driver crested the railroad overpass, she lost control on the downhill left-hand curve and slid broadside for about 180 feet before striking the steel high-tension power pole. The pole measures 17 feet around at the base and was not moved.
The collision spun the SUV around and into the backyard of a trailer at the Timberline Mobile Home Park. Deputies closed Wellesley until 4:15 p.m. while they measured skid, photographed and collected evidence, and removed the crushed vehicle.
The driver was identified as Katie McLaughlin of Otis Orchards. Both she and the passenger were restrained with seatbelts at the time of the crash, investigators said.
Investigation into cause of the crash continues.
