Links   E-mail             Print            Advertisement

SELAH -- A motorist accused of colliding with a bicyclist Sunday is being held on suspicion of felony drunken driving and hit-and-run.

The motorist, a 28-year-old Selah man, spent the night in jail and appeared Monday before a Yakima County judge. His bail was set at $50,000 while prosecutors review the case.

The arrest stemmed from a crash at 1:35 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of State Route 823 and Pomona Road.

Police said the motorist failed to yield to oncoming bicyclist David Hazel, and instead turned left in front of him, causing Hazel, a Yakima attorney, to crash into the car.

The motorist initially stopped but then drove off, telling Hazel he was going to get help. Sheriff's deputies arrested him a short distance away and returned him to the scene.

The motorist was booked on charges of hit-and-run as well as felony drunken driving. Police said he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20, or 21/2 times the 0.08 threshold for drunken driving.

A law that took effect last year makes four drunken driving convictions in 10 years or less a felony. Previously, drunken driving was never more serious than a gross misdemeanor.

The extent of Hazel's injuries were unclear from police reports. Heather Hazel, his daughter and law firm colleague, said he was treated and released for a possible cracked rib and internal injuries.