Collision draws vehicular assault charge

A 21-year-old Colbert, Wash., man was charged with vehicular assault today after an early-morning collision near the state line that injured himself and the other driver, a man from Hayden.  

According to Washington State Patrol, Artur A. Gurdyumov failed to yield at the intersection of Trent and Idaho Road to a semi hauling logs. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Both Gurdyumov, who was driving a 2005 Subaru Outback, and Noel R. Kimball, 45, Hayden, who was driving a 2003 Kenworth, were transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Kimball was ejected from the semi. Both drivers were still being evaluated this morning, so their condition reports were unavailable. They were both conscious when transported.

"(Gurdyumov) failed to yield and pulled out in front of the semi," said WSP Spokesman Jeff Sevigney. "(Kimball) couldn't do anything, but to swerve to avoid smashing into the Outback. It could have easily been a fatal accident, so the truck driver may have actually saved (Gurdyumov's) life.

"The semi driver took evasive action and sideswiped the Outback to avoid taking it out."

Gurdyumov was southbound on Idaho Road four miles north of Liberty Lake at 3:13 a.m., attempting to turn westbound onto Trent. Kimball was westbound on Trent when the vehicles collided at the intersection. The Kenworth rolled and the Outback was spun off the roadway. 

Gurdyumov was wearing a seatbelt, while Kimball was not. Both vehicles were totaled.

Sevigney said troopers at the scene obtained a search warrant from a judge to a obtain a blood sample from Gurdyumov. The sample will be submitted to a toxicology lab for analysis.

Trent between Beck and Star roads was closed for about three hours during the investigation.