Digging Deeper into Street Racing in Pasco

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

A man was in stable condition and several victims shaken up Wednesday after a major wreck on Court Street the day before. Pasco Police believe street racing caused the crash. We wanted to know, was that a fluke or part of a larger problem with racing in Pasco?

Story Published: Mar 17, 2010 at 5:55 PM PST

PASCO, WA. -- When you look at all the cars and all the lights on Court Street, you wouldn't immediately assume it would be a great choice for a street race. But it was Tuesday evening.

Pasco Police believe two men were racing down Court going 60 mph on a posted 40 when one of the drivers, Alfredo Montez, Jr., slammed his truck into a Ben-Franklin Transit Bus trying to turn left onto Court.

Five people were on the bus, including a baby. It was unclear if the infant was injured but a few others were hurt. As of Tuesday evening, Montez was in stable condition at Lourdes.

KEPR Action News found out, this race was far from the first. We talked to people at six businesses on Court Street. All said they'd seen racing there.

"On Court Street, I've only seen it maybe a few times," Daniel Varela said, who's seen hot-rodding out of the windows of his work at Auto Zone.

The staff at Pasco Rentals didn't want to go on camera but one person claimed they see racers on Court at least once a week. Same goes for the folks at Les Schwab.

"I was appalled and frightened," Karen Olson said, explaining her reaction to Tuesday's crash.

Karen Olson is a pastor at a Lutheran church right next to where the crash happened. "There were speeders that didn't have enough concern for the community to be responsible."

In the last three years, Pasco Police cited a dozen people for racing. In these cases, an officer has to personally witness the crime, which is why numbers are much higher for reckless driving in the city. Police cited 153 drivers for reckless driving in three years, which amounts to about one a week. Both are gross misdemeanors.

But whether it is a problem depends on who you talk to.

"Have you seen racing before? Action News asked Olson. "I've seen racing before, from the east in particular. This is a problem."

"Would you say racing is a problem? Action News asked Paula Turnbow. "No," she said. Turnbow lives on Road 48 and Court, where the crash happened.

"So do you race then? Action News asked Varela. "I race but I take it to (legal track in Yakima) ever since I got caught over in Kennewick."

"Racing isn't smart, this is what happens," Pasco Police Officer Ryan Flanagan said. "You think you're invincible until something like this."

Police said Montez, Jr. could face vehicular assault since there were so many victims. The case is being forwarded to the prosecutor's office. In the meantime, police are still looking for the other alleged racer, who took off after the crash.

Police said he was driving a two-door convertible BMW. It's likely a 1995 model, lowered, with chrome wheels. Call Pasco dispatch at 545-5310 with any information.