Tri-Cities street racing a growing problem even before deadly Richland crash
Last Sunday’s deadly crash in Richland is believed to be part of a growing problem this year in the Tri-Cities — illegal street racing.
And it’s not just teens meeting up on rural county roads.
Two weeks ago, Richland police were already posting on Facebook about problems with cars racing around Columbia Point Marina.
The next day in Kennewick, four people challenged each other on Clearwater Avenue. Police spotted them as they sped up and stopped them. All four were cited for racing.
Kennewick police Lt. Jason Kiel said a combination of warmer weather, officer staffing shortages and the easy communication on social media has contributed to more racing incidents.
“Street racing has been a problem that has occurred for decades,” Kiel said. “We don’t have as many bodies as we need to be proactive.”
Many of the racers are teens or young adults who are more likely to be overconfident in their driving abilities, he said.
And often drivers are using drugs or alcohol, further impairing their driving and judgment, he said.
At 2:46 a.m. Sunday, Jennifer Duong, 19, lost control of her car on George Washington Way, slamming into a traffic signal.
Her Acura was sheared in half, killing her three friends.
Investigators say she admitted drinking that night and speeding, and they suspect she was racing two girls under 18 in a white BMW.
The horrific collision has brought a new focus to the problem.
“It is very concerning,” interim Richland Police Chief Brigit Clary told the city council Tuesday night. “The last accident that happened over the weekend was tragic and sad, and we’re certainly in discussions about what we can do.”
Street racing
Last summer, Franklin County decided to target the problem in a different way — by passing an ordinance aimed at punishing those organizing street racing.
Sometimes, two drivers simply meet on a road and decide to start to race.
Other times, people turn to social media to organize street races.
They’ll set up a time to meet at a gas station and then drive out to a deserted stretch of the county, said Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Drew Gardner.
“They go to areas where law enforcement is not present,” Kiel said.
But as police agencies across the Tri-Cities and the nation have struggled to hire enough officers, that’s meant departments haven’t had enough patrol officers to focus on stopping races.
How to solve it
Clary told the Richland council that the city has increased its focus the problem since mid-February.
The department’s street crimes unit has been patrolling in areas where there are frequent complaints.
Along with trying to catch them when the races happen, Kennewick police are trying to increase education about the dangers.
Kennewick and Richland each shared information with the public on social media about street racing.
While many people dismiss it as a serious threat, Kiel said reckless driving can often turn deadly.
And if someone gets hurt or dies, the drivers could face felony charges such as vehicular assault or vehicular manslaughter.
“We’re not going to have a lot of tolerance for that kind of behavior,” he said. “Reckless driving and speeding are the top complaints we get in our community.”
He also urged parents to play a role and reinforce the dangers of reckless driving.
“We always think that nothing is going to go wrong, until it does,” he said. “Those tragedies are preventable.”
Kiel and Clary each said their traffic units have been pulled away to help the department with other issues because of staffing shortages, but there are plans to get them operating again once more staff is hired.
“I think it’s very important,” Clary said. “I think it’s important to our community.”