Tri-Cities driver racing from police clearing parking lot nearly hits pedestrian

A 22-year-old is in jail after nearly hitting a pedestrian while trying to flee police.

Officers were attempting to stop some cars driving recklessly in a parking lot at West Clearwater Avenue and Highway 395 in Kennewick about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Officers with Kennewick, West Richland, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol were clearing out the lot when Kafaya Bugal fled, said Kennewick police.

He reportedly drove several circles in the parking lot and rapidly accelerated out of the lot toward Highway 395, running a stop sign, and then had to suddenly stop to avoid hitting the pedestrian.

Police tried to pull him over, but he raced off, they said. For public safety reasons, officers stopped chasing him.

They later found the recently purchased car on the 800 block of South Cedar Place.

Bugal eventually was arrested on investigation of attempting to elude police and several other violations including reckless driving, hit and run and driving without a license.

He was booked into the Benton County jail and the car was impounded.

This story was originally published August 9, 2020 at 2:15 PM.