Beverly woman, children hurt in rollover

ROYAL CITY - A Beverly woman and her three children were hurt the night of Monday, March 4, as the result of a one-car rollover in the 8000 block of Lower Crab Creek Road south of Royal City.

Injured were Melissa Jo Ferguson, 31, and her children ages 3, 6 and 7. The 6-year-old girl was ejected. Her injuries required MedStar transport to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where she was kept overnight for evaluation.

Ferguson and the other two children were taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment of minor injuries.

"Thank goodness nobody was hurt worse, and this is a good reminder all children must be properly restrained while riding in any vehicle," Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said.

According to Jones, Ferguson became distracted around 7:30 p.m. while driving and lost control of her 2003 Ford Explorer. She overcorrected, and the vehicle struck an embankment and rolled onto its roof.

Jones took advantage of the accident to remind motorists about seat belt law. Enacted in 2007, it requires children less than eight years old be restrained in child restraint systems, unless the child is four feet nine inches or taller.

A child who is eight years old or older, or four feet nine inches or taller, must be properly restrained either with the motor vehicle's safety belt or an appropriately fitting child restraint system. Children under 13 must be transported in rear seats when it is practical to do so.

The fine for improperly restrained children in motor vehicles is at least $112 per child.