Teen busted for 3rd DUI in 45 days gets a hefty bail after crash that killed 57-year-old woman: Prosecutors

Prosecutors successful Washington state successfully requested a precocious bail successful the lawsuit of a teenage operator with a past of DUI charges.

Pedro Ruiz, 18, was arrested connected Friday astatine the country of a car crash successful Pasco, Washington, that claimed the beingness of 57-year-old Maria Mendoza. On Monday, during his archetypal tribunal appearance, Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Erek Puccio said Ruiz was suspected of his 3rd DUI wrong 45 days. He resolved 1 DUI complaint the time earlier the clang and has an unfastened DUI lawsuit successful Franklin County. On the nighttime of the crash, helium was driving with a suspended license.

Franklin County Superior Court Judge Bronson Brown acceptable his bail astatine $1 million.

Local CBS affiliate KEPR reported that according to the Washington State Patrol, Ruiz was heading westbound connected an interstate astatine 7:45 p.m., trying to evade police, erstwhile helium mislaid power of his conveyance and crossed a cablegram barrier, driving into the eastbound lanes. He allegedly struck the conveyance driven by Mendoza, who was heading east.

According to section quality outlet Tri-City Herald, a witnesser alerted police to a man, aboriginal identified arsenic Ruiz, who was driving erratically and pulled into a Circle K state presumption to capable up astatine astir 7:30 p.m. connected Friday. The witnesser said Ruiz urinated connected a substance pump earlier getting backmost into his truck.

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Police caught up to Ruiz's conveyance and made respective attempts to halt him arsenic helium pulled onto the interstate. Troopers said that Ruiz was driving erratically earlier the clang and they attempted to propulsion him implicit again. Instead of stopping, Ruiz allegedly led the troopers connected a pursuit that ended with the fatal crash.

Mendoza was pronounced dormant astatine the scene.

Ruiz was treated for insignificant injuries astatine the country earlier helium was taken into custody. Troopers reportedly recovered respective intoxicant containers successful Ruiz's conveyance aft the clang and noted that his eyes were watery and bloodshot, and that his enactment smelled of alcohol.

Ruiz was arrested connected suspicion of vehicular homicide and attempting to elude police. His arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 12.