Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The 1951 sedan sits in the flood control off of Spring and Mill Street.
COLFAX - Fifty-five years ago a high-speed car chase ended in the Spring Flat flood control channel just south of Mill Street.
Two suspects were arrested at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 1969, in Steptoe, ending a 14-hour manhunt that started after a 1951 sedan crashed at high speeds into the Colfax flood control project.
Arthur George, 24, of Harrah, Wash., and an unidentified fifteen-year-old were reportedly stopped at 6:25 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 1969 for a minor traffic violation.
Reports say as a Pullman police officer attempted to make an arrest, the suspects started their vehicle and headed to Colfax.
According to an article published by the Colfax Commoner on Thursday, June 19, 1969, Pullman officers began the chase north on Highway 195 and radioed ahead to Colfax lawmen.
Reports say Colfax Police Chief Cliff Nolan joined the chase at the Parvin Road intersection and followed the car into Colfax at speeds up to 90 miles per hour.
According to the same article, Chief Nolan said the suspect's 1951 sedan passed two cars as it entered Colfax and went out of control trying to pull back into the northbound lane. The car spun off the highway, crashed through a fence and dropped ten feet into the Spring Flat flood control channel south of Mill Street.
Washington State Trooper R. A. Peterson and Deputy Sheriff Alvin Colvin were reportedly stationed at a roadblock at the Assembly of God church, a few hundred feet from the crash scene.
After the sedan dropped on its wheels, the two men abandoned the vehicle and ran north along the wet floor of the channel.
Reports say Nolan leaped into the channel and continued the chase on foot, but lost the duo when they ran under the Highway 195 crossing.
Their disappearance began a search in the flood control system and the storm drain system.
Volunteer firemen were called into action to help search the system.
Nolan's next lead on the suspects came at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 1969, when John Dailey spotted two men on Highway 195 as he drove north of Colfax.
The two men were arrested in Steptoe by Deputies Colvin and Ken Beardslee.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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