Bellingham man allegedly leads troopers on high-speed chase, hits patrol car Sunday
A 31-year-old Bellingham man was arrested Sunday morning after allegedly leading Washington State Patrol troopers on a high-speed pursuit through Whatcom County near Hovander Homestead Park and hitting an unattended patrol car.
Kolya Daughs was arrested June 21 on suspicion of DUI, second-degree assault, obstructing a police officer, attempting to elude a police vehicle, hit and run of an unattended vehicle and not having a valid ID to operate a vehicle.
Daughs was scheduled for a first appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court on Monday afternoon.
At 12:49 a.m. Sunday, Washington State Patrol troopers attempted to stop a 2002 Volvo S60 Sedan traveling west on Slater Road from Ferndale Road for speeding and lane travel, according to Trooper Heather Axtman.
When a trooper activated their lights, the sedan sped up to 85 mph and a pursuit started, Axtman said. The sedan continued westbound on Slater Road until it turned northbound on Lake Terrell Road, running several stop signs and reaching speeds of up to 75 mph, Axtman said.
The pursuit then turned eastbound and southbound in the area, Axtman said. The sedan had continuous lane travel, straddled the centerline, and averaged speeds around 70 mph, Axtman said.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office set up a spike strip on Slater Road, and law enforcement agencies attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, but it was unsuccessful, and the vehicle lost its rear bumper, Axtman said.
The pursuit continued, at one point heading southbound on Lake Terrell Road, where the vehicle went in and out of the ditches, Axtman said. Near North Red River Road and Haxton Way, the vehicle swerved to avoid spike strips that were out, and went into a ditch and hit an unoccupied Lummi Nation Police Department vehicle, Axtman said.
Shortly after, troopers attempted another PIT maneuver, which was successful. The vehicle was stopped shortly before 1:15 a.m. roughly 20 feet off the roadway. The driver, who identified as Daughs, was taken to St. Joseph hospital to be examined before being booked into the Whatcom County Jail, Axtman said.
Drugs or alcohol were a factor in the pursuit, Axtman said. No officers were injured during the pursuit, she said.
