SPOKANE, Wash. — A Mead School District student was killed in a single-vehicle crash that blocked the road at West Rutter Parkway and North Dorset Road on Thursday.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that 16-year-old Parker McInerney was killed in the crash. The manner of his death has not yet been released.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office says Spokane County Traffic Unit investigators were at the scene and said the road was closed between West Rutter Parkway Lane to North Dorset Road.
SCSO says commuters in the area were forced to turn around as there were no options to divert traffic.
SCSO says deputies responded to a reported vehicle that had crashed into a tree around 10:35 a.m. on Thursday. Deputies and Spokane County Fire District 9 firefighters found a man inside the car who reportedly died on the scene.
SCSO says initial information indicates the car was traveling west on Rutter Parkway when it left the north side of the roadway and struck a large tree.
According to the Mead School District, one of its students was the person who was killed in the crash. The school district released the following statement to families Thursday afternoon.
It is with a heavy heart that I share sad news with you that Panther Nation lost one of its Panthers today. We are respecting the direction and timing of the student’s family and sharing no further information at this time.
We have a district crisis team, in addition to our school counseling team, who will be available to support students and staff as we navigate this loss. The crisis team will be on-site tomorrow (Friday), Monday, and Tuesday, and as needed after the Thanksgiving break.
Hearing information like this can cause a range of emotions and remind us of other losses. It is important to remember that grief shows up in a multitude of ways and sometimes when we least expect it.
If your Panther needs any support or is struggling, please do not hesitate to reach out to us now or in the future.
As your family processes this loss, we wanted to share with you some important resources that our Crisis Team will also share with students and families: The National Grief Center for Children & Families: click HERE and HERE.