A 29-year-old Spanaway woman was arrested for driving under the influence after a late night crash in Kent on Monday, Mar. 9 that involved another vehicle carrying a toddler, according to the Kent Police Department.
Officers responded at 11:13 p.m. to the 26000 block of Pacific Highway South (map below) after reports of a collision between a Lexus GS and a Chevy Tahoe, Kent Police said.
Police said the suspect driver was seen exiting the Lexus when officers arrived. A witness confirmed she was the driver and only occupant of the vehicle, and she admitted to being the driver.
According to police, the driver of the Chevy Tahoe told officers she had been traveling southbound on Pacific Highway South in a left turn lane approaching South 260th Street when the Lexus turned right from westbound South 260th Street and struck her vehicle head on.
The impact pushed the Lexus into the eastbound turn lane with one tire onto the construction median, police said.
The driver of the SUV had her two-year-old child secured in a car seat behind the driver’s seat at the time of the crash. Both received a medical evaluation at the scene and showed no serious injuries, according to police.
“We are incredibly thankful that the victim driver and her child were in an SUV,” police said. “The outcome would likely be very different if she and her toddler had been in a smaller car. The suspect was lucky.”
Both vehicles were rendered inoperable and were towed from the scene.
Kent Police said the suspect driver smelled of alcohol and showed signs of impairment. She was arrested for DUI and later took a breath test at the jail that showed her blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.
Police said the driver has prior DUI offenses.
Kent Police also used the incident to remind drivers to plan ahead and avoid driving while intoxicated, encouraging people to arrange a ride or call a friend or family member if they have been drinking.
