Kennewick woman accused of eluding police in Moses Lake

by Richard Byrd
| February 21, 2018 2:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — A Kennewick woman was charged for allegedly running numerous red lights and driving in the opposite lane of travel during a pursuit in Moses Lake.

Grant County prosecutors charged Adriana Rivas, 20, in Grant County Superior Court with attempting to elude.

On Feb. 11 a trooper with the Washington State Patrol was on patrol on West Valley Road and allegedly spotted a vehicle in front of him that was speeding. The trooper activated his emergency lights, but the driver, alleged to be Rivas, refused to stop and continued driving on West Valley Road, eventually driving through a red light at Stratford Road and entering the Big Lots parking lot.

Rivas allegedly turned onto Stratford Road and, after going through another red light, made a left onto Broadway Avenue. Rivas continued driving on Pioneer Way, which turns into state Route 17, and a trooper set up stop sticks just south of Interstate 90 on SR-17. Both tires on the left side of the vehicle were popped by the stop sticks and Rivas started to slow down.

“The driver then crossed into the northbound lane headed southbound. The driver was completely in the northbound lane continuing south on SR-17 approaching Road M at 55 mph with no traffic. The driver returned to the southbound lane at 55 mph. The vehicle began to lose parts of the tires and kicking them back at my patrol car,” wrote a trooper.

Rivas allegedly drove in the opposite lane of travel a couple more times, until her vehicle started to spark. Rivas later pulled the vehicle over and she and her passenger were taken into custody for questioning.

Police also searched Rivas’ purse and found a few substances that were believed to be marijuana. The male passenger in the vehicle was released from police custody. Court documents allege Rivas was driving with a suspended license at the time of the incident.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.