Othello man arrested after attempting to flee traffic stop, crashes car

OTHELLO — Charges of DUI, felony eluding and possession of a firearm are pending against an Othello man after he crashed his car while allegedly attempting to flee from a Washington State Patrol traffic stop late Monday night.  

Cristian Torres, 20, was not seriously injured in the crash, said Jeremy Weber, District 6 public information officer for the Washington State Patrol. The crash occurred at about 10 p.m. Monday.  

“He was stopped for DUI and then ran,” Weber said. “He didn’t make it too far.” 

Torres was driving south on Barbara Road, about 1.5 miles west of Othello, according to a WSP press release. He allegedly turned onto Thacker Road at a high rate of speed, but lost control and drove off the road near the intersection of Thacker and Wind Hill Lane, the WSP release said. His car came to rest in the northbound ditch. 

Weber said in the case of a DUI stop it’s better to just stop. Otherwise, drivers are putting themselves and others at risk.  

“If you’ve been drinking and driving and you get pulled over, own up to the responsibility,” he said.