Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
KENNEWICK — A Pasco man is facing possible charges after leading a Benton County Sheriff's Office deputy on a chase on U.S. Highway 397 and then crashing.
Eric Perezbernal, 22, was arrested following the 12:45 a.m. Saturday, July 25, crash, according to the Washington State Patrol.
He was not injured, the patrol reported. But his passenger, Jonathan Gomez Magana, 19, also of Pasco, was taken by ambulance to a Pasco hospital.
The patrol car was driven by Daniel Korten, 50, of West Richland, the patrol reported. He was not injured.
All three were wearing seatbelts, the patrol reported, noting alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
Perezbernal was southbound on U.S. Highway 97, south of Third Avenue inside the city limits, when a Benton County deputy attempted a traffic stop, the patrol reported. Perezbernal made a U-turn and headed northbound in an attempt to elude the deputy.
During the pursuit, Perezbernal lost control of his 2006 Toyota Corolla and struck the deputy's 2015 Ford Explorer, then a railroad crossing arm, the patrol said.
The Toyota was towed from the scene by Ken's Auto Rescue, the patrol reported. The Explorer had reportable damage.
The incident remains under investigation and charges are pending, the patrol reported.
Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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