Police Department

Eluding Suspect to be Charged After Crash at Trent/Helena

Ofc. Teresa Fuller

Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at 7:13 p.m.

Spokane Police will be charging a female with several felonies after a brief traffic pursuit this afternoon. The officer’s supervisor terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns, but the driver continued at high speeds, causing a crash at Helena/Trent. The citizens in the victim vehicle sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries, so as a precaution, SPD’s Major Crimes Collision Investigators were called out to process the scene.

The incident started at about 3:40pm this afternoon, July 20, 2016, when a Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT) Officer witness a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed in residential side streets in the area of Mallon/Crestline. The suspect vehicle had no plates, was painted primer grey, and the officer estimated the speed of the vehicle at 50mph in the 25mph zones of the residential area. As the officer got behind the vehicle, it slowed and a male jumped out of the passenger seat and ran. The officer continued to attempted to stop the vehicle with his lights and siren activated. The vehicle sped up again, so as they were approaching busy arterials with rush hour traffic, the PACT Team supervisor made the decision to terminate the pursuit.

A short while later, a crash came out at the intersection of Helena/Trent. The PACT Team officer immediately recognized the vehicle as the one he’d been pursuing and saw the female driver running away from the scene. He was able to take her into custody just west of the intersection. She had sustained a large cut on her leg trying to scale a fence that was topped with razor wire.

There were two people in the victim vehicle who sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital. The female suspect was also transported after having a medical issue on scene. Once medically cleared, she will be charged with Attempting to Elude Police, Felony Hit and Run, and Vehicular Assault. It does appear at this time impairment is a factor in the crash. The female suspect’s name will be released once she is booked into jail.

The male who ran initially is still outstanding and police are looking into what charges he may face as a result of today’s incident.

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