Spokane man arrested after wife's arm severed
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - A Spokane man has been booked into jail after he ran over his wife at Newman Lake and severed her arm with a boat propeller.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office reports 27-year-old Robert W. Kienel and his wife were in a 20-foot ski boat when the accident occurred about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Marine deputy Patrick Bloomer says while the husband drove the boat, the wife was bow-riding on the front, an activity which is unlawful in the state of Washington. Bloomer says Kienel took a hard turn at about 30 to 35 miles per hour, throwing the woman into the lake.
Bloomer says the boat's propeller struck the woman and severed her left arm below the elbow. The sheriff's office says Mrs. Kienel was taken to a downtown Spokane hospital, where she was expected to survive.
Bloomer says before Kienel was booked into jail, he was taken to a Spokane Valley Medical Center for blood testing. Bloomer says the floor of the boat was "littered with empty beer and wine" containers.
Kienel was arrested for investigation assault by watercraft, a Class C felony.
The sheriff's office says the boat was seized as evidence.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office reports 27-year-old Robert W. Kienel and his wife were in a 20-foot ski boat when the accident occurred about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Marine deputy Patrick Bloomer says while the husband drove the boat, the wife was bow-riding on the front, an activity which is unlawful in the state of Washington. Bloomer says Kienel took a hard turn at about 30 to 35 miles per hour, throwing the woman into the lake.
Bloomer says the boat's propeller struck the woman and severed her left arm below the elbow. The sheriff's office says Mrs. Kienel was taken to a downtown Spokane hospital, where she was expected to survive.
Bloomer says before Kienel was booked into jail, he was taken to a Spokane Valley Medical Center for blood testing. Bloomer says the floor of the boat was "littered with empty beer and wine" containers.
Kienel was arrested for investigation assault by watercraft, a Class C felony.
The sheriff's office says the boat was seized as evidence.