Troopers warn about dangers of driving under the influence

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- Local law enforcement agencies have responded to a number of drunk driving crashes recently, including several over the weekend.

"In Yakima alone, in the last three months, one single Trooper has caught three wrong-way drivers on SR 12 near I-82 there in Yakima," said Trooper Chris Thorson with the Washington State Patrol. "And unfortunately, Saturday morning in Pasco we had a wrong-way driver who we now investigating as a vehicular homicide."

In that crash, a wrong-way driver on I-182 is accused of driving drunk and crashing head-on into another vehicle, killing the 37-year old driver in the victim vehicle.

Another weekend crash in Kennewick left a 23-yer old driver with non-life-threatening injuries when he failed to properly navigate around a roundabout in Columbia Park. That driver faces DUI and trespassing charges.

One crash in Pasco ended when the driver crashed his car at a roundabout at Madison Ave. and El Paso Drive Saturday night. The driver in that case ran from the scene of the crash when his Toyota Highlander erupted into flames. Juan Lucero, 39, was arrested for DUI and Hit and Run.

And a single vehicle rollover crash in Franklin County sent a Boise, Idaho man to the hospital Saturday night. According to the Washington State Patrol, Brandon Schaffan, 24, received non-life-threatening injuries when his SUV rolled into the median on Highway 395 at Phend Road.

"Set up your ride home before you ever actually leave the house and go out and drink or use drugs," Thorson said. "It makes it a lot easier making that decision completely sober than at midnight or 1:00am when you go to leave the holiday party or bar-- now you're making decisions under the influence."

Thorson recommends using a ride-share service to get to your destination, so you're not tempted to drive, or designate a driver who will not drink so they can get you home safely.