Franklin Connection - Serving Franklin County, WA

BURBANK — Two Pasco boys were injured early Monday morning, Aug. 22, after the car in which they were passengers crashed while being pursued by the Washington State Patrol.

The 16-year-old driver, also from Pasco, was not injured, the patrol reported. But his 15-year-old and 16-year-old passengers were transported to a Richland hospital.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation and charges are pending against the driver.

The patrol has yet to release the identities of the boys or say what charges are pending against the driver.

The crash occurred at about 2:53 a.m. at the U.S. Highway 12-state Highway 124 interchange, the patrol reported.

The boys were westbound on U.S. Highway 12 in a 2007 Acura on being pursued by trooper Ryan M. Gustin, the patrol reported. Gustin had his emergency lights and siren activated.

The teen driver took the Highway 124 exit at the Burbank city limit and lost control at the top of the exit ramp, the patrol reported. The Acura then left the roadway.

Under state law – House Bill 1054 approved by the Legislature in 2021 — law enforcement officers are prohibited from pursuing vehicles unless there is “probable cause” for an arrest in a violent crime, such as rape, murder, kidnapping or a drive-by shooting.

The patrol did not cite the reasons for the pursuit, not did it report the speed of the pursuit.