DUI accidents occur with all too much frequency, and matters are only made worse when there are injuries and/or property damage involved. What appeared to be a ‘routine’ DUI accident in Seattle recently involved two occupants of a vehicle who crashed into two parked cars. In terms of legality, the owners of the parked cars could have valid civil claims for the damage caused by the driver of the vehicle.
However, police discovered much more when they arrived on the scene, according to the Seattle Times:
“At 11:53 last night, Seattle police and Port of Seattle patrol officers responded to the 6200 block of Seaview Avenue North to investigate a report of a traffic collision involving fleeing armed suspects.
Officers arrived and detained two male suspects, a 17-year-old driver and a 20-year-old passenger. The driver, who officers believed to be under the influence of alcohol, had crashed a black sedan into two parked cars. According to witnesses, the driver got out of the car armed with a rifle, which he hid in some bushes.
Officers searched the area and found an AK-47 assault rifle loaded with a 30- round “banana” clip, police said. Officers searched the passenger and discovered that he was armed with an illegal “butterfly” knife. Police also found two baseball bats and a red bandanna in the back seat of the car.”
It does not yet appear to be known what the occupants of the vehicle were planning with such an arsenal in their possession. Regardless, it appears that hitting those parked cars may have saved the city from a much more dangerous incident. However, the owners of those parked cars need to contact an auto accident attorney to obtain information about their legal rights. You should do the same if you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Seattle. Contact Phillips & Webster immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.