A 14-year-old boy is accused of driving under the influence and leading police on a chase near Bellingham before crashing his car, reports KIRO TV.
The Washington State Patrol arrested the minor, Darren Olsen Jr., on Wednesday morning after noticing the child weaving and driving well under the speed limit. When the officer turned on his lights to stop the car, Olsen allegedly accelerated his car and turned off the road.
The chase ended quickly as the teen crashed into a pack of parked cars at an apartment complex. Inside the car, police discovered three other people including a 53-year-old man and a 12-year-old. Everyone but the 12-year-old was drunk. It is not clear who the lone adult was in the car.
Olsen was charged with suspicion of drunk driving and taking a motor vehicle without permission. The car is reportedly Olsen's grandmother's car.
Washington Underage DUI Laws
In Washington, the legal limit to drink and drive is lower for minors. While the legal limit is 0.08 for those 21 years of age and older, the legal limit is only 0.02 for those younger than 21. So even if the minor only has one beer, he could be arrested for a DUI if his blood alcohol level is above 0.02 or if his driving is otherwise impaired.
In the case of Darren Olsen Jr., his blood alcohol level was not reported. However, prosecutors may use his erratic driving and subsequent crash to support the DUI charge.
Contact a Seattle DUI Attorney
If your child has been charged with suspicion of drunk driving, you will want to contact a DUI attorney.
A DUI charge can result in serious penalties, even for minors. An attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense can help explain the charges that the minor faces and review options for the child's defense.
Contact us at 425-284-2000 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
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