Crime & Safety
Spokane Valley Driver Faces Homicide Charge After Fatal Crash
Spokane Valley, WA – Local authorities are investigating a fatal collision that occurred on September 12, 2026, involving a passenger vehicle and a scooter.…
By Blake Harrison · 2026-09-15T21:35:30.323Z
Spokane Valley, WA – Local authorities are investigating a fatal collision that occurred on September 12, 2026, involving a passenger vehicle and a scooter. Spokane Valley Deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of S. Flora Road at approximately 12:35 a.m. following reports of a crash. Emergency personnel from the Spokane Valley Fire Department and AMR Medics provided life saving measures to the victim, who was not initially breathing, before transporting him to a local hospital.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff 's Office, the driver of a Tesla involved in the incident has been identified as 18 year old Phillip M. Ragland Jr. Investigators believe that Ragland was traveling south on Flora Road from E. Sprague Avenue when his vehicle collided with the victim, who was riding a scooter on the Appleway Trail. Ragland remained at the scene and cooperated with deputies throughout the initial investigation.
Deputies who were also certified Drug Recognition Experts DRE conducted field sobriety tests at the scene, concluding that Ragland appeared to be impaired. He was arrested for DUI, and a search warrant was obtained to collect a blood sample for testing. Following the victim's death at the hospital later that morning, the charge against Ragland was upgraded to vehicular homicide. During a probable cause review held over the weekend, a Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner set the suspect's bond at $10,000. Ragland has since posted bond and been released from custody.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to release the identity of the decedent along with the official cause and manner of death once the family has been notified. The investigation into the circumstances of the collision remains active, led by the Spokane Valley Traffic Unit.
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