News bites for Aug. 29, 2023

EPHRATA — With school about to resume, it’s important for residents to know the rules of the road regarding school buses, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

On most streets and roads, all lanes of traffic in both directions must stop when a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off kids, the GCSO wrote. However, on divided roads and highways, drivers traveling the opposite direction from the bus do not have to stop; only drivers traveling in the same direction as the school bus must stop.

State law allows a fine double the standard limit up to $500, the GCSO added. Half the fine goes to the state's school safety zone account.

MOSES LAKE — Gunfire in the Lower Basin Homes neighborhood damaged a vehicle Thursday but did not result in any injuries, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department.

About 9:20 p.m., MLPD officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of SR 17 and Grape Drive, according to the statement. Upon arrival in the 1400 block of North Buell Drive, officers found a white SUV with obvious damage. Residents at the location told officers they had been driving on SR 17 when another vehicle pulled up and its occupants shot at them.

One of the investigating officers observed a firearm in the white SUV, according to the statement. As the investigation progressed, officers learned that a black Mercedes was involved in the incident. This vehicle was located a short distance away. Both the white Ford SUV and the black Mercedes were impounded for search warrants. The motivation for the incident is unknown and the investigation is ongoing.

HARTLINE — Three youths were injured in a single-vehicle collision about 6 miles northeast of Hartline Saturday, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

About 7:30 p.m., a 16-year-old Hartline boy was driving a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta south in the 46000 block of Road V Northeast, according to the statement. For reasons that are unclear, the Jetta veered left of the center line and the driver overcorrected to the right. The Jetta then swerved off the west side of the road, traveled down the shoulder, rolled and came to rest on its passenger side blocking Road V Northeast.

The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, the statement said. Two passengers, a 16-year-old Hartline boy who was ejected, and a 17-year-old Coulee Dam boy, both had critical injuries and were transported by air ambulances to Providence-Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to be a factor, the GCSO wrote. The driver was believed to have been speeding, and it was unknown whether driver distraction played a role.