Kirkland man dies from crash injuries

A 20-year-old Kirkland man who crashed his car into a tree Dec. 17 died from his injuries at Harborview Medical Center Thursday.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Joseph Napenias. He died from injuries to his head, neck and body, a death investigator said.

Around 10 p.m. on Dec. 17, Napenias was westbound in the 5500 block of South 152nd Street; he was driving 60 mph in a 25-mph zone and passed another vehicle, said Tukwila police Sgt. Doug Johnson. Napenias swerved to avoid an oncoming car, overcorrected and slid his car into a tree, he said. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Officials ID victim of skiing accident

King County medical investigators on Friday identified Odessa Marie Nelson as the 22-year-old skier who crashed into a tree and died at Stevens Pass two days before Christmas.

Nelson died at the ski area from a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain, multiple rib fractures and other injuries just after 6 p.m. Dec. 23, a death investigator said.

Kent worker killed when wall falls

Construction workers in Federal Way were using a forklift to set a wooden wall into its foundation Friday morning when a cable snapped, dropping the wall onto two workers, killing one and injuring the other.

Just before 10 a.m., medics were dispatched to the construction site at 34700 11th Place S., home of a new medical and professional building, said Federal Way Police Cmdr. Andy Hwang. Workers were guiding the 12-foot by 36-foot wall as it was being lifted into place when "something gave, something went wrong, the cable released and crushed the gentleman," Hwang said of the 39-year-old Kent man who was killed.

A 41-year-old Renton man broke his leg and was taken to St. Francis Hospital, Hwang said. The other workers were able to scramble out of the way.

The Kent man, who has not been identified by the King County medical examiner, worked for D & K Crane, a subcontractor working for the building's Everett-based general contractor, Kirtley Cole Associates, Hwang said.

The state Department of Labor and Industries is investigating.

House leader backs tax-limit proposal

Some Olympic Peninsula homeowners have enlisted influential support for a bid to limit property taxes by amending the state constitution.

The homeowners' group, called Property Owners for Predictable Tax Now, is pushing for a 1 percent annual cap on the increase in a home's assessed value.

The proposed constitutional amendment has picked up the endorsement of Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, the House majority leader. Kessler is sponsoring the bill with a Republican from the same district, Rep. Jim Buck of Joyce. Kessler acknowledged the measure has a difficult hurdle to meet before becoming law but said it should spark important debate.

Organizers say the measure would help keep property-tax increases predictable amid hot housing markets, which can push up the estimated market value of a home unexpectedly from year to year.

Snowmobile driver killed in rollover

A Lake Stevens man died in Okanogan County after he apparently lost control of his snowmobile and it overturned on him, Sheriff Frank Rogers said Friday.

James R. Comer, 36, was found face down in the snow under his machine by other snowmobilers about 5 p.m. Thursday above Black Pine Lake, about 10 miles northwest of Twisp, the sheriff said.

Comer was riding with about 20 others when he separated from the group to do some hill climbing about 3 p.m., Rogers said. Friends who went looking for him found the crash site and called authorities about 6 p.m.

Rogers said it appeared Comer lost control of the machine and it rolled on top of him.

Man fatally shot was from Everett

The Snohomish County medical examiner has identified the man shot outside a south Everett home Wednesday as Gabriel Hawkins, 26, of Everett.

Hawkins was shot in the head in the 1000 block of Center Road about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was taken to Providence Everett Medical Center's Colby campus where he died Thursday.

Neighbors reported hearing screams and gunshots, a Snohomish County sheriff's spokesman said.

The investigation into Hawkins' death is continuing.

Woman who tied up children sentenced

A South Kitsap woman who tied up two of her grandchildren and fed them only graham crackers and ice chips for days as a punishment has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Judith Kay Mann, 61, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors earlier this month for second-degree assault of a child and unlawful imprisonment.

Her husband, Larry Lee Mann, 66, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault of a child and unlawful imprisonment in October. He's serving an eight-month sentence. Prosecutors think Judith Mann was the primary perpetrator.

The offenses against the adopted children, a 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl, came to light June 11 when the boy escaped and was picked up by sheriff's deputies. He was malnourished and had bruises all over his body, deputies reported.

When they went to the Manns' home, they discovered the 8-year-old girl on a mattress on the floor, her ankles bound with plastic ties.

The children said they were released only to go to the bathroom.

Man accused in stabbing dies

A man who police say stabbed an officer Dec. 12 in Everett died Wednesday evening at Providence Everett Medical Center's Colby Campus. He was identified as Sean Hopkins, 37, of Everett.

Everett police had gone to 1804 Hewitt Avenue on a report that a tenant had flooded an apartment. When police confronted Hopkins, he stabbed Officer Dwight Snyder in the abdomen and bit another officer, according to police.

Hopkins then struggled with police and lost consciousness, Everett Police Sgt. Boyd Bryant said. No information was released as to the cause of Hopkins' death.

Snyder had surgery for his injuries and was released from the hospital. He's on paid leave while he recovers.

Times staff and news services

Information in this article, originally published December 31, 2005, was corrected January 5, 2006. Due to erroneous information provided by the King County Medical Examiner's Office and Tukwila Police, Joseph Napenias' last name was spelled incorrectly in a previous version of this story about the 20-year-old's death following a December 17 car crash in Tukwila; though Tukwila was listed as his hometown, Napenias was in fact from Kirkland. Also, police said Napenias was passing another vehicle in a no-pass zone, but that information was also incorrect.