High-speed crash ends police pursuit on Valley Mall Parkway

EAST WENATCHEE — A 16-year-old driver was taken into custody early Saturday morning, January 24, after fleeing from police and crashing a vehicle along Valley Mall Parkway, according to the East Wenatchee Police Department.

Police said officers attempted to stop a Chevrolet Camaro at about 2 a.m. Jan. 24 after observing the vehicle being driven recklessly near the intersection of Valley Mall Parkway and Third Street Northeast.

Officers activated their lights and sirens, but the driver accelerated and headed northbound on Valley Mall Parkway “at speeds well over 70 mph,” according to police, moving toward the downtown area during the busy bar-closing hour, when people were still in the street and on sidewalks.

Because of safety concerns and department policy, officers terminated the pursuit. Police said the driver continued at a high rate of speed and in a reckless manner toward downtown East Wenatchee.

The vehicle crossed a median near the downtown crosswalk in the 800 block of Valley Mall Parkway, breaking its front axle and flattening multiple tires before coming to a stop in the 900 block of the parkway.

The driver ran from the vehicle but was located and taken into custody behind a nearby closed business.

Police said the driver and two juvenile passengers were not injured, and no bystanders were hurt.

The 16-year-old driver was booked into the Chelan County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of attempting to elude, DUI, and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media