Flurry of accidents, one fatality
Driver in Wednesday crash has many DUIs; pregnant woman hurt
A driver involved in an injury accident near Springdale, Wash., on Wednesday has a long history of driving under the influence and other offenses, including habitually driving with a suspended license.
Michael J. Forsyth Jr., 42, was being held Friday on $50,000 bond in Stevens County Jail after a Washington state trooper arrested him Wednesday night.
The trooper almost had Forsyth stopped, but he took off and slammed into another vehicle carrying a pregnant passenger. She and the driver were injured, but not seriously.
The accident occurred on state Highway 292 just east of Springdale.
According to Washington State Patrol records, Forsyth could face charges of felony DUI involving injuries; driving with a license suspended or revoked because of previous DUI convictions; attempting to elude law enforcement; and driving a vehicle without an anti-alcohol ignition locking device required by a previous court order. The Stevens County prosecutor has until Monday afternoon to decide which charges Forsyth will face.
Forsyth’s previous convictions occurred in Stevens, Lincoln and Spokane counties. They include three convictions for domestic violence assault in 1994 and 1997; DUIs in 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2004; being in physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated in 2000; and being a habitual traffic offender with his license suspended or revoked.
He was also convicted of hit-and-run in 2000 and malicious mischief in 2004. His rap sheet includes driving with license suspended or revoked in 1995 and 1997.
In the incident Wednesday, the state trooper was out of his car on a traffic stop when he received a call of an erratic driver in the area. Suddenly, the erratic driver appeared, and the trooper waved the driver over, officials said.
The trooper approached the vehicle and asked the man to get out after smelling alcohol, but the driver, whom police identified as Forsyth, took off.
Moments later, Forsyth allegedly swerved into the eastbound lane and collided with the vehicle driven by Justin D. Icard, 24, and Brittany J. Knudson, 19, both of Spokane. Knudson is eight months pregnant.
They were treated at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and released on the night of the accident.
Forsyth was treated and released to authorities from Providence Holy Family Hospital and booked into jail later night.
“Anybody who is a repeat offender who continues to do it we would like to get off the road,” said Trooper Troy Briggs, spokesman for the WSP in Spokane.