Newsbriefs

Free fire safety stuff available at market

In addition to fruit, crafts, and kids’ activities at the Wednesday Market this week, Molina Healthcare of Washington is hosting a wildfire preparedness event, tonight, Sept. 5, at North Dam Park from 4-7 p.m. Attendees will receive free fire safety educational materials, Molina bags, hand sanitizer bottles, bandage dispensers, face masks for kids and adults, and additional fire safety resources from Coulee Medical Center and the local chapter of the Red Cross.

Tonight, the kids’ activity, sponsored by the Grand Coulee Library, will offer a “Story Hour” from 6 to 7 p.m. Next Wednesday, Coulee Medical Center will sponsor the last kids event of the season with a “Build a Card” activity.

Correction:

The city of Grand Coulee is currently insured by CIAW, not AWC as we previously reported in a brief talking about the city considering shopping around for insurance.

Trucker plunges down McNeil Canyon

A big rig hauling fruit didn’t make a corner on a steep canyon road between Mansfield and the Beebe Bridge in Douglas County Tuesday morning and ended up at the bottom of the ravine about 6:40 a.m., trapping the driver.

Douglas County sheriff deputies and fire personnel responded to the single semi tractor-trailer accident approximately 1.5 miles up McNeil Canyon Road, Sheriff Kevin Morris said. 

“The semi, which was hauling fruit in a refrigerated cargo trailer, was unable to negotiate a curve in the roadway, losing control and ultimately coming to rest at the bottom of the ravine,” Morris reported.

The driver was identified as a 43-year-old man of Kennewick, Washington, the sheriff said without giving further identification.

He said the driver was trapped in the cab of the semi and was extricated after several hours of continuous work from the fire and rescue personnel.

He was flown to Central Washington Hospital due to his injuries and was listed Tuesday night as being in critical condition in the intensive care unit, the sheriff said.