Suspected Impaired Juvenile Driver Charged with Vehicular Assault after Crashing an SUV, with Two Juvenile Passengers, into a Tree
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the report of a possible one-vehicle crash near the intersection of N. Bowdish Road and E. Mission Avenue. They contacted three 15-year-old juveniles east of the crash location. Two juveniles were detained, and the third fled on foot, but after a short foot chase, he was detained by additional Deputies. After determining the driver, Deputies arrested the suspected impaired 15-year-old juvenile for Vehicular Assault, Hit and Run-Injury, Obstructing Law Enforcement, and Driving without a License. The other two juveniles received medical attention for what appeared to be serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
On July 19, 2025, at approximately 1:15 am, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to an unknown injury crash near E. Mission Avenue and N. Bowdish Road in Spokane Valley. Multiple callers reported hearing a crash, and one caller stated he observed three people running east from the scene.
Deputies flooded the area, and two male juveniles and one female juvenile were located on E. Mission near N. Union Road. A 15-year-old male juvenile ran despite the fully marked patrol car with emergency lights activated and the Deputy telling them they were detained and not free to leave.
Another Deputy found the fleeing juvenile a short distance away, and after a brief foot pursuit, took him into custody.
Through the subsequent investigation, Deputies identified the 15-year-old male who ran as the driver of the Jeep SUV, which was traveling north on Bowdish when it left the roadway and crashed into a large tree. Two 15-year-old passengers, one male and one female, were also in the vehicle when it crashed. Despite being juveniles, the two males showed obvious signs of impairment. All three were evaluated at the hospital, where both males were medically cleared.
Deputies received a valid search warrant to obtain a blood sample from the driver and later secured it into evidence for later testing. He was transported and booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center for charges of Vehicular Assault, Hit and Run-Injury, Obstructing Law Enforcement, and Driving without a License.
After being medically cleared, the male passenger, who appeared highly intoxicated, was transported and booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center for Minor in Possession of Alcohol.
The female passenger was released to a parent while she continued to receive treatment for what appeared to be a serious but non-life-threatening injury.
Although this remains an active investigation, initial evidence indicates impairment and speed appear to be factors.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Suspected Impaired Juvenile Driver Charged with Vehicular Assault after Crashing an SUV" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7