WALLA WALLA, Wash. – A motorhome crashed into a power pole in Waitsburg Wednesday evening after a high-speed chase according to a press release from the Walla Walla Police Department.
WWPD says detectives of the department’s Career Criminal Apprehension Team (CCAT) saw the motorhome just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday on N Second Avenue near US-12 without a license plate, noting that the driver seemed impaired.
Detectives tried to perform a traffic stop on the motorhome after it turned to head eastbound on US-12, however it did not stop and swayed throughout its lane.
WWPD says the detectives pulled up next to the motorhome to alleviate potential blind spots for the driver to see a woman driving with a man in the passenger seat. The motorhome did not stop and eventually hit another car without attempting to slow down.
The detectives report that the man then pulled the woman out of the driver seat and took over, speeding up to 75 mph from 40 mph.
WWPD says the detectives contacted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to set up spike traps just outside of Waitsburg which later deflated the motorhome’s tires. The driver lost control and hit a power pole in the area of Coppei Avenue and Preston Avenue then hit a chain-link fence and stopped across from Preston Park.
The motorhome’s driver was reportedly unconscious after the crash while the woman exited the vehicle safely. The man was brought to a nearby hospital.
WWPD says the Washington State Patrol took over investigation of the crash while CCAT detectives found that the 28-year-old driver had two warrants for his arrest, one from Texas for parole violation and possession of a controlled substance and another from Oklahoma for possession of a stolen vehicle.
The woman was interviewed by WWPD and said the man would not let her pull over when she was driving the motorhome.
The driver’s medical condition is currently unknown. The investigation is ongoing.
