5 Tri-Cities street races in 3 days. Cracking down on the need for speed

Pasco police stopped a rash of street racers speeding through the city in recent days.

Since Friday, officers broke up five street races, arrested three people, wrote five tickets and chased a fleeing car.

And Washington State Patrol troopers are seeing similar problems on state highways.

Fewer drivers on the roads because of the coronavirus travel restrictions has tempted many speeders around the Tri-Cities region, including reports of some cars and motorcycles reaching 130 to 150 mph.

Then, over the weekend Pasco Officer Ismael Cano spotted a Mustang convertible racing next to a Hyundai Genesis coupe just after 10 p.m. Friday near Court Street and Road 44, said a police Facebook post.

Cano and Officer Branden Upton stopped the cars and booked the drivers, Julio E. Jacinto and Alex Zamora, into Franklin County jail for reckless driving. Both of their cars were towed.

Forty minutes later, Officer Ron Seltun spotted a Mercedes and a Subaru take off from the light at Court Street near 26th Avenue. Both drivers were stopped and ticketed for reckless driving and racing.

The highlight of the night came when police got a report of several vehicles racing north of the King City Truck Stop on Capitol Boulevard. As officers were arriving, several cars tried to flee.

One Honda Civic was weaving through traffic and driving the wrong way.

Officer Conrad Christenson spotted the car and arrested Jose Alejandro Paz-Herrera for reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

About a day later, Officer David Dillsworth noticed a Chevy Silverado racing south on Road 68. The driver got a ticket for racing.

On Sunday, Officer Tony Grosz received a report of a car racing east on Interstate 182 Sunday about 9:45 p.m.

He stopped two of them on Court Street at Road 36, and both drivers were cited.

“Don’t speed. Just don’t. If you must speed, don’t do it competing with another vehicle on the street,” said the post. “If you must compete with another vehicle on the street, stop for the police with they tell you to. #whydowecare? #becausewevebeentothebloodycrashes.”

Pasco police’s Facebook post had more than 200 comments, with several complaining about drivers racing through their Tri-City neighborhoods.

Sgt. Rigo Pruneda encouraged people to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333 if you see people driving recklessly or racing in your neighborhood.