Dwi Suspect Leads Troopers On Chase

A suspected drunken driver led Washington State Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase through several Spokane Valley neighborhoods last week before crashing his car into a ditch north of Millwood.

Speeds reached 80 miles per hour during the six-mile pursuit, said WSP Sgt. Chris Powell.

The driver, 27-year-old Gary L. Turner of Spokane, was not injured. Turner was arrested early Friday on charges of felony eluding and drunken driving.

WSP Trooper Mike Shaw needed 10 stitches to close a gash on his right hand he received while arresting Turner.

The pursuit started near Trent Avenue and Evergreen Road when Sgt. Lee Boling tried to stop a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix that was weaving along Trent, Powell said.

The car did not stop, and instead turned north onto Butler Road, then west onto Empire Avenue, Powell said. Eventually, the car turned north onto Argonne Road, raced through Millwood, then cut through a field near Columbia Road and crashed into a ditch, Powell said.

Troopers used a baton to break a window on the car when Turner ignored their repeated commands to get out of the locked car, Powell said.

Shaw was cut when he reached through the window and unlocked Turner’s door.

Turner was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail without further incident, Powell said.

, DataTimes