UPDATE: Suspect’s Charges Upgrade to Vehicular Homicide
Yesterday, Spokane Valley Traffic Unit Detective Todd Miller received information from the hospital that the motorcycle rider involved in a collision on July 11, 2022, in the 16800 block of E. Sprague, had died from his injuries.
With this new information, the suspect, 61-year-old Bonita M. Powers, has now been charged with Vehicular Homicide.
Powers remains in the Spokane County Jail, now charged with Vehicular Homicide.
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Press Release from July 11, 2022:
Vehicle/Motorcycle Collision Investigation
Spokane Valley Traffic Unit Investigators are investigating a vehicle/motorcycle crash near Sprague and Steen Road in Spokane Valley. The driver of the vehicle, suspected of impairment, was arrested and booked for Vehicular Assault. The rider of the motorcycle was gravely injured and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
On July 9, 2022, at approximately 8:20 pm., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the report of an auto/motorcycle collision in the 16800 block of E. Sprague Avenue.
Spokane Valley Fire and AMR arrived to provide medical attention while Deputies began investigating.
Due to the adult male motorcycle's severe injuries, Traffic Unit Investigators and SIRT Team Volunteers were called to assist.
Spokane Valley Fire personnel provided medical treatment to the injured rider, who was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he remains in critical condition.
Initial information indicates the vehicle, a Honda CRV, driven by 61-year-old Bonita M. Powers, was on the north side of Sprague and started turning to go east in front of the westbound motorcycle.
Powers submitted to Field Sobriety Testing and a preliminary breath test which showed her BAC at .144. A search warrant was requested and granted to obtain a blood sample for testing.
Powers was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Vehicular Assault. Her bond was set by Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Price at $7,500.
This remains an active investigation, and charges could be upgraded if the victim does not survive.
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