Fatality Crash, Driver Arrested for Vehicular Homicide
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies and Traffic Unit Investigators responded to a one-vehicle, roll-over crash yesterday evening. One of the three occupants of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene. Both the driver and the front passenger were transported to the hospital for additional treatment and later released. After his release from the hospital, the driver was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Vehicular Homicide.
On August 4, 2021, at approximately 6:45 pm., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the report of a vehicle that crashed and rolled several times in the area of S. Cheney Spokane Rd and S. Sherman Rd. in Southwest Spokane County.
Arriving Deputies contacted the driver and the front (juvenile male) passenger of the vehicle who had received what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries during the violent crash. The third (adult male) passenger, seated in the backseat, was gravely injured and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Witnesses stated the 2002 Lexus passenger car was traveling toward Spokane on Cheney Spokane Rd. at a high rate of speed. The driver, later identified as 19-year-old Rayce R. Kent, failed to negotiate a curve, and the vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Traffic Unit Investigators responded to the scene to continue the investigation. They processed the scene, which included an estimated 500-foot skid and debris trail, for evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Due to the severity of the crash combined with evidence indicating Rayce was possibly impaired, Investigators obtained a search warrant for a blood sample.
After his release from the hospital, Rayce was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Vehicular Homicide.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the decedent at a later time, when appropriate.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation.
###
