Police: Fleeing driver crashes on Samish Way, 4 injured

A woman led police on a 90-mph car chase before striking a car carrying a grandmother and two toddlers on South Samish Way on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 18, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Both drivers and the two children were injured and taken to St. Joseph hospital, WSP spokesman Mark Francis said. The two toddlers, ages 2 and 3, were not believed to be seriously injured Wednesday.

The grandmother, 43-year-old Charity Aber-Alex of Bellingham, had serious but not life-threatening injuries, Francis said. All three family members were in a Dodge Neon that was struck almost head-on by a Toyota pickup truck on South Samish Way, by Interstate 5, according to troopers. The children were in car seats in the Neon’s back seat.

Justy J. Davidson, 24, of Bellingham drove the pickup truck. The chase began around 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Skagit Valley Casino, when a state trooper saw a pickup connected to a theft investigation from a week earlier.

Davidson drove from the parking lot and merged onto I-5 with the trooper in pursuit. Francis said the traffic on the freeway was light at the time. The pickup reached a top speed of 91 mph, Francis said.

Davidson took the North Lake Samish exit, ran a stop sign near the on-ramp and slammed into the Dodge neon, Francis said.

Davidson had minor injuries and was sent to St. Joseph hospital. Troopers suspect she was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash, Francis said. A blood test was conducted at the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

She could face charges of attempting to elude police, reckless driving, and vehicular assault, Francis said.

Davidson was released from Whatcom County Jail on June 30, 2015, after posting $1,500 bail on a charge of first-degree criminal impersonation. In 2011, she was convicted of bail jumping and unlawful possession of methamphetamine and heroin.

Court papers list her as a Bellingham resident.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Police: Fleeing driver crashes on Samish Way, 4 injured."