News bites for June 6, 2023

SOAP LAKE — A hike took a frightening turn when a hiker fell at the Lenore Caves Friday afternoon.

At about 2 p.m., responders from Grant County Fire District 17 were called to the scene about half a mile from the parking lot of the popular hiking area north of Soap Lake. There they found a middle-aged woman who had fallen and injured her leg and hip, according to a statement from the fire district. The victim was unable to walk, the statement said.

Responders determined more help was needed and called in support from GCFD 13, based in Ephrata, the statement said.

The firefighters extricated the hiker using a stokes litter and litter wheel, according to the statement. The process took about two and a half hours.

MATTAWA — One person died and three more were injured in a two-vehicle collision near the Vernita Bridge south of Mattawa Saturday afternoon.

At about 3 p.m., Kalim Deskin, 31, was driving south on SR 243 in a 2001 Chevrolet Express van when she drifted onto the soft shoulder, according to the Washington State Patrol’s report. Deskin overcorrected and swerved into the northbound lane, where her vehicle collided head-on with a 2022 Toyota RAV4, the WSP wrote. Deskin and her passenger Jared A. Look were injured and taken to Kadlec Medical Center in Kennewick, as was William E. Lara Ardon of Seattle, the driver of the RAV4. Lara Ardon’s passenger, Maria I. Quijano, also of Seattle, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor, the WSP wrote, and Deskin and Look were wearing seatbelts. It was unknown whether Lara Ardon or Quijano were wearing seatbelts. Deskin was cited for second-degree negligent driving, according to the WSP.

LACEY — The Washington Association of Sheriff’s and Police Chiefs has elected its board for 2023-24, according to an announcement from the association.

Chief Darrell Lowe, of the Redmond Police Department, will replace the outgoing president, Douglas County Sheriff Kevin Morris, according to the announcement. The vice president will be Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels and the treasurer will be Chief Damon Simmons of Liberty Lake PD, the announcement said. The chief at-large will be Bellingham PD Chief Rebecca Mertzig, and Kittitas County Sheriff Clay Myers was reelected sheriff at-large.

WASPC was founded in 1963 and consists of executive and top management personnel from law enforcement agencies statewide, the announcement said. With more than 900 members, it includes all 39 county sheriffs, and 240 police chiefs, as well as the Washington State Patrol, the Washington Department of Corrections, and representatives of Tribal and federal agencies. WASPC is the only organization of its kind in the nation, the announcement added.

“These are some of the top law enforcement leaders in Washington and we are grateful they have stepped up to provide direction for our statewide organization,” Steve Strachan, WASPC executive director, wrote in the announcement. “They will shape the policies for all law enforcement across the state and guide the best practices that make public safety better for every community.”