Reckless Driving/Minor in Possession Incident Tuesday Morning in Hoquiam

Early Tuesday morning, 1:15 AM, (4/21/09), Sgt. Joe Strong was traveling northbound on Ontario to assist another officer in the 2500 block of Cherry Street.  As Strong stopped for the stop sign at the intersection of Sumner Avenue he saw headlights from a vehicle traveling westbound on Sumner.  It was slightly foggy with a visibility of about three blocks.  As Sgt. Strong crossed Sumner Avenue he saw the vehicle approaching him at an extremely high rate of speed and it had closed to approximately 200 feet of the intersection.  Strong had to accelerate rapidly in order to avoid being struck by the fast approaching vehicle.  As the vehicle passed behind him the officer saw that it was a dark colored Jeep traveling at a speed estimated to be in excess of 75 mph in the 30 mph speed zone.  There were no other vehicles in the vicinity on Sumner.

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Sgt. Strong immediately backed his vehicle so he could see which the direction the Jeep was traveling.   He saw the brake lights come on in the Jeep and watched as it turned to southbound somewhere close to the intersection of 23^rd and Sumner.  Officers converged in the area and found the Jeep parked in the alley in the 2300 block between Sumner and Simpson Avenues.

There were six occupants inside the Jeep.  Officers identified all the individuals in the Jeep and found that they had all been drinking.  A 15, 16 and 17 year old were identified as residents of Ocean Shores and the three will be charged in Grays Harbor Juvenile Court for being Minors in Possession of Alcohol.  An 18 year old from Ocean Shores and a 19 year old of Ocean Shores will be charged in Hoquiam Municipal Court with Minor in Possession of Alcohol.

The driver of the Jeep was identified as an 18 year old of Ocean Shores.  He was cited into Hoquiam Municipal Court for Reckless Driving and Minor in Possess of Alcohol.  He had been drinking but was not intoxicated.

All of the people arrested were released from custody.  The 15, 16, and 17 year olds were released to responsible adults.