CENTRALIA, Wash. — Police say a hit-and-run driver who is also suspected of driving under the influence kept trying to evade Centralia officers even though three of her car's tires had been flattened by spike strips and the vehicle was rammed by officers.
Officers were called to a report of a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Tower Avenue and Sixth Street in Centralia where a silver Ford Focus had struck the side of a semi-truck.
Within a few minutes, officers spotted the Ford heading south on South Gold Street and tried to pull it over, but the driver kept going, driving through stop signs and traveling in the oncoming lane of traffic, according to investigators.
Officers then deployed spike strips, which deflated three of the car’s tires.
Police said that even with three flat tires, the woman continued driving, ignoring traffic lights and stop signs.
Officers then tried to stop the Ford using a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT maneuver, several times, which at first where successful, but each time the woman was able to restart her car and begin driving again before officers could get her out of the vehicle.
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She then continued driving south on Gold Street, where another PIT maneuver was attempted and caused her car to spin out, but she continued driving the wrong way on Gold Street.
A final PIT maneuver was used at the intersection of Gold and Summa streets, which finally stopped her car. The woman had to be pulled out of her car and she was taken into custody for investigation of hit-and-run, attempting to elude a police vehicle and DUI.
Officers said once the 53-year-old Vancouver, Wash., woman was taken into custody, it appeared she had been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
She was transported to a local hospital to have blood drawn.
Centralia police said three police vehicles were damaged while trying to stop the woman’s car.
Cox Media Group
