At approximately 12:20 am, December 4, 2023, Washington State Patrol (WSP) communications received a 9-1-1 call reporting a vehicle driving westbound in the eastbound lanes I-90 near milepost 32 in North Bend.
Troopers responded to the area, and around milepost 27, a trooper encountered the vehicle traveling the wrong way and attempted to get the vehicle to stop. The vehicle swerved and continued westbound in the eastbound lanes. The description of the wrong-way vehicle was a silver Nissan Altima.
Troopers were able to set eastbound I-90 around milepost 22 and deploy spike strips in an attempt to get the vehicle stopped before a collision occurred. The spike strips were successful, and another 9-1-1 caller advised that the vehicle exited the wrong way from Preston to eastbound I-90 on the onramp.
A short time later, troopers were able to locate the vehicle on Preston Way and take the driver into custody. The driver was Jhonatan B. Crisostomo Salmeron, a 27-year-old male from Burien, Washington. He was booked into the King County Jail for DUI, Reckless and Suspended 3rd.
See the video below from two of the troopers involved, which shows the magnitude of the danger they put themselves in to bring this to a conclusion that did not involve injuries.
The WSP reminds drivers to avoid the far-left lane except when passing, and this is particularly so late night/early morning when impaired driving is most prevalent. Not only is that the law, but wrong-way drivers ~ most often due to impairment ~ tend to use the far-left lane. Those motorists encountering a wrong-way vehicle should pull to the farthest right lanes as quickly as possible and notify the WSP by calling 9-1-1.
The recent instances of wrong-way vehicles on our local freeways are troubling, most recently tragically claiming three lives, and impairment is the leading ~ and completely avoidable ~ cause. The WSP reminds motorists to make good choices both in choosing to either drive impaired or choosing to ride with an impaired driver. The choice you make could save, alter, or end your life!
[Information provided by the Washington State Patrol]
