WSP: Suspected drunk driver arrested after I-5 pursuit, crash
MARYSVILLE, Wash. - A suspected drunk driver who led state troopers on a chase up Interstate 5 in Snohomish County was arrested after he crashed his pickup down an embankment, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The incident began at about 8 p.m. Saturday when a state trooper attempted to pull the driver over as he headed north on I-5 in a Chevy pickup.
The driver refused to pull over, however. He exited the freeway at the Everett trestle and then drove around Snohomish County as the trooper followed.
The State Patrol eventually terminated the pursuit, but then picked it up again when the pickup driver returned to I-5.
State troopers then laid out spike strips near the Everett trestle as the pickup approached, and the strips shredded one of the pickup's tires.
The driver kept going and a trooper then forced the pickup to spin around suddenly by impacting it with a special maneuver of his patrol cruiser.
The pickup then rolled down and embankment and crashed.
The 40-year-old driver clambered out of the pickup and was placed under arrest at about 9:30 p.m.
Records show the pickup is registered to an address in Lake Stevens. It was not stolen.
The incident began at about 8 p.m. Saturday when a state trooper attempted to pull the driver over as he headed north on I-5 in a Chevy pickup.
The driver refused to pull over, however. He exited the freeway at the Everett trestle and then drove around Snohomish County as the trooper followed.
The State Patrol eventually terminated the pursuit, but then picked it up again when the pickup driver returned to I-5.
State troopers then laid out spike strips near the Everett trestle as the pickup approached, and the strips shredded one of the pickup's tires.
The driver kept going and a trooper then forced the pickup to spin around suddenly by impacting it with a special maneuver of his patrol cruiser.
The pickup then rolled down and embankment and crashed.
The 40-year-old driver clambered out of the pickup and was placed under arrest at about 9:30 p.m.
Records show the pickup is registered to an address in Lake Stevens. It was not stolen.
Glad no troopers got hurt. Thanks you guys!
Same old idiots. Different day.
The laws are really pretty tough if enforced. What should be done is close the loop holes. No more pleading down to lesser charges and no more diversion.Â
 @Telman@ But this is a cash cow for defense attorneys! What are you saying???? (I agree with you)
We don't need harsher sentences. The ones written by KOMO staff are bad enough.
For those of you who are defending drunk drivers because of their "disease" or because they are addicts, NOT ALL DRUNK DRIVERS ARE ALCOHOLICS. Most are just stupid dumb effs who think they are invincible.
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 Oh poor drunk driver, they don't need jail, they need help... Boo hoo hoo. <sarcasm>
 @Tattooed_Angel Further, alcoholism is a "disease" that is totally preventable.
For those commenters below who, like me, would like tougher DUI laws, it ain't gonna happen.
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As long as public officials take the risk of drinking and driving; e.g. Judges, school administrators, legislators, cops, etc, those guys don't want tougher laws because they would apply to themselves as well.
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Where are the people who usually spout off "he's innocent until proven guilty" today?
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All I hear is crickets...
 @HonkeyCat Of course he is innocent until proven guilty. Trouble is, in this case that proof is a slam dunk.
Dumb drunk. Drunk and leading a police chase. Yeah you're basically carving your own headstone there. Lucky he only took himself off the road.
Too bad this drunk driving SOB survived the crash... now we have to pay for his sorry arse in prision and the medical bills he collected as a result of this. With out wrist slap system this guy will probably be out doign the sam thing all over again... and next time he might hurt or kill someone...
In Canada drunk driving is a felony. Maybe someday lawmakers in Washington state will move past the 1950's.Â
At least no innocent victims were hurt. Too bad this moron didn't just eliminate himself from the gene pool.
Harsh prison sentences don't help other than to get them off the road. Its a health issue more than anything else. These people need help and its almost impossible to get it. There is still no scientific approach to addictions. Its still just god based nonsense that doesn't cure anything. Addicts need professional help to beat their disease.
@Blindman Not all people that drive drunk are alcoholics/addicts. Some of them are just stupid and drive drunk because they think they are ok to drive.
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 @ulquiorra And an almost full mOOn,
LOTS of drunks on our roads. When will the State of Washington become much tougher on drunks and those that kill others behind the wheel? The POS need to sit in prison for a decade and if you commit "manslaughter" (really murder via a vehicle) they should face a minimum of 20 years. The get out of prison for good behavior pass (BS) should also be ended. Driving drunk is choice. Prison should be the consequence!!!Â
 @HallandOates Unfortunately since alcoholism is a "disease" the courts have to go easy on drunk people since people can not be held responsible for what happens due to their "disease".
@timdog Not all drunk drivers are alcoholics though. They are just effing stupid!
@Tattooed_Angel  They are impaired--their judgement is off.
Now courts? Do your thing! A slap on the wrist, a "Bad Boy! Don't EVER do that again!" And cut him loose. OR.........if you want to break protocol, lock this idiot up for a LONG time, revoke his license when he gets out, and fine the heck out of him. As we all have seen, NEXT time, he might KILL someone. Damn drunks.
 @LoudNoises At the very least mandate an Interlock device on this violation. Don't wait till next time!