Driver caught going 115 mph in Tri-Cities during Water Follies weekend
Excessive speed in the Tri-Cities was not limited to the Columbia River this weekend.
The Washington State Patrol caught several drivers during the Columbia Cup hydroplane race weekend blowing away speed limits on state highways around the area.
Trooper Chris Thorson with the Washington State Patrol stopped three drivers in a short period speeding along Interstate 82, according to a Twitter post on Sunday afternoon.
“Not impressed with the speeds coming into the Tri-Cities,” Thorson wrote. “Just my stops alone have been 115, 100 and 95 mph. ... Three in a row on Interstate 82.”
While it will take a few more days before the state patrol has a full count on the number of speeders, Thorson said they saw aggressive and reckless driving all weekend.
Many of the speeders were driving in the 90s and 100s, with the highest clocked at 115 mph.
The annual Water Follies Columbia Cup and STCU Over the River Air Show brought an estimated 60,000 to the Kennewick and Pasco shorelines for the three-day event. And Richland’s popular Art in the Park event added thousands more to the roadways.
The state patrol planned ahead for the traffic by bringing in additional troopers to monitor the highways. That included support from motorcycle troopers and an airplane.
While speeds were up, the state patrol didn’t see an increase in crashes this year. There were 21 collisions, one fewer than last year. And Thorson said none resulted in serious injuries.
Three of the crashes were caused by drunk or high drivers.
Troopers arrested nine intoxicated drivers, which also was drop from 13 last year.
In all, 11 drivers were booked into the Benton County jail since Friday for DUI and three were arrested in Franklin County, jail records show.
Columbia and Wade parks
The action in Columbia Park stayed mostly on the water, Kennewick police Commander Christian Walters told the Herald.
Officers responded to only a few calls over the course of the weekend and no one was arrested at the park, where temperatures stayed in the low to mid-90s.
Kennewick Fire Chief Chad Michael said few people needed medics or to be taken to the hospital this weekend.
Pasco police Sgt. Tom Groom said they received no calls for problems at Wade Park. And aside for a few minor disturbances, he characterized the weekend as “pretty low key.”
This story was originally published July 31, 2023 at 12:46 PM.