Nov. 26 – Washington State Patrol troopers will conduct emphasis patrols on Washington State Route 26 and U.S. Highway 195, as well as Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass, through Sunday.
District 4 troopers in Whitman, Spokane and Adams counties, as well as District 6 troopers in Grant and Kittitas counties, will focus on speed, distracted or impaired driving and other violations that cause collisions during the emphasis, the agency announced in announced a press release.
Motorists should observe posted speed limits and be prepared for changing road and weather conditions.
Drivers are encouraged to prepare their vehicles for winter, including checking all fluids and tires, and ensuring the vehicle battery is in good condition. The agency also recommends carrying a small emergency kit equipped with water, snacks, blankets, winter clothing and emergency flares. When traveling over mountain passes, chains may be necessary.
WSP’s main focus is to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safely and without incident, the press release said.
Current road and weather conditions on all state highways can be found on the Washington State Department of Transportation website at wsdot.com/travel/real-time.
Four WSP vehicles hit by suspected impaired drivers
Daily news, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay informed, delivered daily at 7am
It was a busy weekend for WSP forces when four of their cruisers were struck by suspected impaired drivers.
The agency said in a news release Sunday that the incidents occurred within a four-hour period in King County.
The first happened Saturday around 11 p.m. when an officer noticed a driver, who appeared to be sleeping, entering the intersection of Washington State Route 516 and Military Road. Unable to get their attention, the law enforcement officers drove in front of the car to prevent it from crawling further.
The driver was arrested for alleged driving.
The next three collisions involving patrol cars occurred just before 3 a.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 5. Troopers were investigating a collision when a vehicle arrived on the scene and struck one cruiser, which was pushed into another.
The driver was arrested for alleged impairment.
Shortly afterwards, another police car that arrived on the scene to assist with traffic control was struck. The driver was also arrested for suspected impairment.
No soldiers were injured in the incidents and the suspects did not suffer serious injuries.
The agency is urging motorists to drive carefully as the holidays begin.
