When a driver is pulled over by the police, one of the first impulses might be to flee, especially if the driver is aware that he or she is drunk. Most drivers resist the impulse to escape, but, on occasion, a drunk driver will make the situation worse by trying to speed away from the police.
Clark County Sheriff's Office deputies stopped a man after noticing that his car was missing the front tire on the passenger side. A deputy was inspecting the vehicle and trying to determine if the vehicle had been in an accident or if the driver needed assistance when the driver sped away from the police and traveled at a high-speed north on Northeast Chkalov. One of the deputies alleged that the driver was driving north in the southbound lanes. Police were allegedly able to track the car because they could see sparks made where the wheel with no tire struck concrete. Police also alleged that the suspect attempted to evade their use of a "PIT maneuver," a technique used by police vehicles to catch and disable fleeing vehicles.
Vancouver police joined the pursuit, and the vehicle finally stopped in the 10500 block of Northeast 71st Street. The driver was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, attempting to elude the police and driving with a suspended license. A passenger in the car was questioned by deputies and released.
Attempts to elude the police rarely succeed. Instead, the suspect is apprehended and charged with crimes that reach far beyond a DUI. Anyone facing such charges may wish to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney for an evaluation of the prosecution's evidence and an estimate of the likelihood of obtaining a favorable plea agreement or outright acquittal.
Source: KOMO News, "Clark Co. sheriff: Suspected DUI driver tries to outrun cops in car with missing tire," KATU News, Oct. 11, 2017