Officers arrested a suspected DUI driver after he committed at least three hit and run collisions, one involving an injured woman.
On March 30th at approximately 6:28 a.m. officers responded to the report of a hit and run rollover collision at 12th Avenue South and Boren Avenue. Upon arrival officers discovered a Ford Explorer occupied by a female driver. The vehicle appeared to have been broadsided and subsequently overturned, coming to rest right side up. At about the same time police radio broadcast another report of a hit and run collision at Rainier Avenue South and South Jackson Street.
An adult male suspect driving a silver 2006 Chrysler 300 with significant front end damage had struck a vehicle in the intersection. Prior to these two collisions, the suspect had collided with another vehicle at 12th Avenue and East Cherry Street. The suspect was attempting to flee the scene, but his Chrysler 300 was inoperable due to damage sustained in the multiple hit and run collisions.
Officers stopped the suspect on South Jackson Street just east of Rainier Avenue South. Before stepping out of the car, the suspect grabbed a handful of crack cocaine and placed it in his mouth. He was taken into custody shortly thereafter.
Both the 47-year-old female victim (Ford Explorer driver) and the 44-year-old male suspect were transported to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) for treatment (the female victim was sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the collision she was involved in). There were no injuries reported in any of the other collisions.
Officers responded to HMC to process the suspect for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Officers recovered crack cocaine off of the suspect which was booked into evidence. The suspect remains under police guard at HMC. Upon release he will be booked into the King County Jail.
This remains an active and on-going investigation.