Authorities say that a drunk driver may have been responsible for a bizarre sequence of events on Interstate 5 in Seattle last Wednesday night.

A 38-year-old DUI suspect was allegedly speeding a Ford Taurus south on I-5 while throwing beer cans out the car window, reports KIRO TV. The unidentified driver may have been speeding to evade an earlier hit-and-run that he is also accused of causing.

The driver was driving dangerously, weaving in and out of traffic, when he eventually rear-ended a Honda sending both cars into the back of a semi-truck. The cars struck with such force that both caught on fire. The driver of the semi-truck helped save the DUI suspect and the driver of the Honda by putting out the fire with his fire extinguisher.

By that time, troopers were already responding to multiple calls of a drunk driver on I-5 and were hoping to stop the driver before an accident occurred. They were too late. The responding troopers say that the suspect was obviously intoxicated and was driving on a suspended license. It's not clear if the license was suspended for a prior DUI conviction.

The DUI suspect now faces many penalties. If he was intoxicated, he faces criminal drunk driving charges including possible enhanced penalties if he is a repeat DUI offender. Even if he wasn't drunk, he could face penalties for reckless driving and endangerment.

If you have a question about drunk driving, its penalties, and possible defenses, contact an experienced attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense. We represent clients in the Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Mercer Island, and other King County areas. We advocate for the rights of DUI defendants and offer creative solutions to difficult problems.

Call us at 425-284-2000 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.