Passenger says driver refused to let her out. A police chase and a crash followed
A woman, who said she was not allowed to get out of the car, reportedly suffered a broken arm and leg when the car she was a passenger in crashed into a tree after a suspected DUI driver reportedly led a high-speed chase down Interstate 5 in Whatcom County.
The Washington State Patrol booked Esteven R. Delafuente, 26, into Whatcom County Jail Wednesday, July 12, on suspicion of attempting to elude police, reckless driving, DUI, vehicular assault and unlawful imprisonment.
At approximately 11:11 p.m. Wednesday, a trooper spotted a vehicle traveling southbound between 85 and 100 mph and swerving between lanes, Trooper Jacob Kennett told The Bellingham Herald.
Suspecting the driver, who was later identified as Delafuente was impaired, the trooper attempted to stop the car, but Kennett said it did not yield.
The trooper continued to follow at a distance until receiving permission to engage in a pursuit near the Old Fairhaven Parkway exit, Kennett said. The trooper managed to find the car, still speeding south along I-5, and again attempted to get Delafuente to pull over.
Instead, Delafuente exited the freeway and headed south along North Lake Samish Drive at speeds 20 to 30 mph over the posted limit, Kennett said, prompting troopers to again terminate the chase.
Shortly afterward, troopers found Delafunte’s car had crashed with the passenger side door wedged against a tree, Kennett said. As the troopers approached, they heard a woman screaming that she couldn’t get out and noticed smoke coming from the car.
Fearing the car might catch fire, troopers broke the driver’s side window to get Delafuente and the woman out of the car, Kennett said. Troopers believed the woman had suffered at least a broken arm and leg.
In speaking to the woman, troopers found that she did not want to be in the car, Kennett said, but Delefuente refused to let her out.
Kennett said troopers also established probable cause to arrest Delefuente for DUI, and he admitted to using drugs.
