Driver killed, 2 hurt in wrong-way crash on I-5 in Arlington

A man driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 was killed and two women were injured in a collision early Tuesday.

State Patrol Trooper Kirk Rudeen says the cars collided head-on at freeway speed.

The wrong-way driver, 33-year-old Jason French, of Shelton, died at the scene, the State Patrol said.

The two women, a 40-year-old driver and a 34-year-old passenger, both from Sedro-Woolley, suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital. Their names weren't released.

The Patrol is still investigating why the man was driving south in the northbound lanes.

Redmond

Ex-church leader pleads guilty to rape

A former Redmond church youth-group leader has pleaded guilty to child-rape and child-molestation charges that date back nearly four years.

Brent A. Krum entered guilty pleas Friday to three counts of third-degree child rape and three counts of third-degree child molestation.

A former youth leader at the Summit View Church in Redmond, Krum acknowledged having sexual intercourse with girls who were then 15 years old, beginning in May 2004 and on other occasions through 2005.

According to a Redmond Police Department investigation, the sexual contacts took place at Krum's house in Redmond and at a Kirkland motel.

Krum, 37, faces up to five years in prison for the offenses under standard state sentencing guidelines. Sentencing is set for 1:45 p.m. Feb. 15 before King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque.

Seattle

Student robbed in dorm stairwell

A University of Washington student was beaten and robbed early Tuesday while walking down his dorm stairwell.

The student was shoved down the stairwell at McCarty Hall by a man at about 2:10 a.m., according to UW Assistant Chief Ray Wittmier. The suspect grabbed the man's wallet out of his pocket and took cash, a debit card and other items before throwing the wallet back at the student.

The injured student didn't need medical attention, Wittmier said. Officers searched the area but haven't made an arrest.

The student said he didn't know the man who attacked him but described him as an Asian male, wearing a dark gray or faded black sweat shirt and dark-colored jeans. The suspect is possibly in his 20s with medium-length "gelled hair," Wittmier said.

Anyone with information is asked to call UW police at 206-685-UWPD (8973).

Seattle

Man denies forcing girl to be prostitute

A Seattle man who police say coerced a 12-year-old girl into prostitution pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree child rape and one count of promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor. A judge ordered bail for Steven L. Leonard to remain at $250,000.

Leonard, 23, met the seventh-grader on a sidewalk in Seattle on Jan. 9 and persuaded her to run away from home with him, according to charging documents filed Tuesday by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

According to charging papers, Leonard had sex with the girl several times and gave her tips on how to work as a prostitute, including how much money to charge for various sexual acts.

A man then paid the girl for oral sex and she later handed over most of the cash to Leonard, according to the charging documents.

Leonard has been previously convicted of escape, theft, animal cruelty and possession of stolen property. He has been booked into the county jail seven other times in the past 11 months.

Federal Way

Man questioned, cleared in slaying

Police said a man who was wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting death of a woman at the Federal Way Transit Center park-and-ride lot has been cleared as a suspect after he was questioned by investigators.

Police said the man came forward after police circulated his name and photograph as a possible person of interest in the 7 p.m. slaying of Dar'rel Lenea Miller, 38, of White Center on Jan. 18.

Federal Way police spokeswoman Stacy Flores said that although no one has been arrested in the case, progress is being made because witnesses have cooperated.

She said there does not appear to be a connection between the victim and her attacker. She said the slaying was the first major crime reported at that park-and-ride location.

SeaTac

Frozen treats tainted, recalled

A SeaTac ice-cream company is recalling its coconut-flavored frozen treats after routine sampling by the state Agriculture Department turned up listeria contamination.

The Ca Rem #1 Ice Cream company distributed the 3-ounce treats on sticks, similar to Popsicles, mainly to Asian markets and restaurants in Western Washington and Oregon. No illnesses have been reported.

Anyone who still has one of the frozen treats should throw it away. Consumers with questions can call the company at 206-720-1887. You can't tell by looking or smelling whether something is contaminated with listeria. The bacteria can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. It can cause serious problems for pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Seattle

4 to tackle peak in cancer climb

Four local mountain climbers are setting out to tackle an unnamed, unclimbed peak in Alaska's Fairweather Range as part of a campaign to raise awareness of cancer research, officials at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center announced Tuesday.

The climb is a metaphor for the long, tough slog researchers face in their quest to eliminate cancer, and three of the four team members said they have learned that cancer, like a mountain, can prove to be a formidable obstacle.

Matt Farmer, 32, lost his father to cancer after two experimental stem-cell transplants; Kevin Mahoney, 38, has relatives who have survived cancer and others who have succumbed; Bayard Russell Jr., 30, said his father survived thyroid cancer. The fourth climber is Dawn Glanc, 32.

The climb, called the "Big Expedition for Cancer Research," is expected to take place in June. The 8,000-foot mountain was identified by local climber Jim Wickwire during an expedition in the Glacier Bay National Park area in 1973.

Seattle

Dalai Lama to extend stay

The Dalai Lama has added an additional day to his Seattle visit this spring.

The Tibetan Buddhist leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner will be in Seattle on April 11-15, joining other global leaders in discussions about the importance of nurturing compassion in children.

The five-day event is being organized by Seeds of Compassion, which aims to focus attention on the importance of emotional and social development in children.

Most events are free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Seeds of Compassion will distribute tickets first to community organizations. Individuals may request tickets through www.seedsofcompassion.org. The organization plans to begin processing individual ticket requests March 1.

Seattle Times staff and news services