Juvenile Driver Charged with DUI & Vehicular Assault after Crash
Spokane Valley Deputies, investigating a two-car injury collision late yesterday afternoon, charged one of the drivers, a 16-year-old female, with Driving Under the Influence and Vehicular Assault.
On May 23, 2019, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the intersection of E. Sinto Ave. and N. Dick Rd. for a reported two-car injury collision.
Deputies learned the juvenile female driver, with two juvenile passengers, was traveling north on Dick Rd., approaching the intersection of Sinto. Her vehicle collided with the victim’s vehicle, driven by an adult male, as it traveled westbound through the intersection.
During the subsequent investigation, including an uninvolved witness statement, the suspect driver was traveling approximately 40 to 50 mph in a posted 25 mph zone and hit the victim vehicle which was estimated to be traveling at or near the speed limit.
Deputies smelled a strong odor of Marijuana coming from the suspect’s vehicle. After being advised she was suspected of driving a vehicle while impaired and of her rights, the juvenile driver admitted to smoking Marijuana approximately two hours before the crash and agreed to perform field sobriety evaluations. She also explained they were late to pick up a friend, and she was driving too fast. She tried to stop to avoid the collision with the victim’s vehicle but was unable to stop in time.
Probable cause was established to charge the suspect driver with Driving Under the Influence and Vehicular Assault due to the “substantial” injuries (broken bone and concussion) suffered by one of the passengers in the suspect’s vehicle, and the victim driver.
A search warrant to obtain a sample of the suspect driver’s blood was obtained and served.
After being medically cleared, the driver was transported and booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center for DUI and Vehicular Assault.
As we approach Memorial Day weekend, prom and graduation season, and the warm days for summer, we urge drivers to think about their safety and the safety of everyone else traveling on our roadways. Think of everyone’s family, friends, and consider the devastation, the possible loss of life your decision to drive under the influence or impaired may cost all of us.
Please, make a plan, be safe, and never drive drunk or high
Corporal Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer