A 54-year-old man from Burien was arrested Wednesday night following a serious DUI crash near Meeker Street and Kent Patrol Office in Kent, according to the Kent Police Department.
Police responded around 10:48 p.m. to reports of a rollover crash in the 2200 block of West Meeker Street. Officers arriving at the scene found a Toyota RAV4 overturned with two occupants trapped inside. Puget Sound Fire crews responded and safely removed both individuals from the vehicle.
Investigators say the driver failed to maintain his lane, veered off the roadway to the right, and struck a metal pillar before the SUV rolled onto its side and slid onto the sidewalk. Despite the severity of the crash, both occupants escaped with only minor injuries.
Police reported the driver showed several signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking “buzzballs” before driving. Authorities also discovered the suspect was operating the vehicle with a suspended license in the first degree and that the SUV did not have a required ignition interlock device installed.
The driver was arrested and booked into the Kent Jail on charges including DUI, reckless endangerment, driving with a suspended license, and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device. After refusing a breath test, officers obtained a warrant for a blood draw, which was conducted at a local hospital.
Kent Police used the incident to remind the public about the dangers of impaired driving and urged anyone under the influence to avoid getting behind the wheel.
