Wrong-way driver in Richland crash was supposed to be in jail for another DUI wreck

A Tri-Cities man set to begin serving jail time for a drunk-driving crash is now charged with causing another alcohol-related collision that hurt someone.

Ricardo Arroyos, 24, was supposed to have turned himself into the Benton County jail in November to begin serving five months for trying to elude police, hit-and-run and DUI.

But officials say he never showed up and, instead, was allegedly drunk when he drove the wrong way on the Highway 240 causeway and slammed into another car about 11 p.m. Dec. 6.

Now, he’s being held in lieu of $200,000 bail in the Benton County jail. He’s already pleaded innocent to charges of vehicular assault, first-degree escape, driving with a suspended license and without an ignition interlock.

His trial is set for Feb. 6.

The night of the crash, Arroyos was driving a Ford Explorer that belonged to the passenger Samantha Bounds, 21, of Benton City. She told investigators that she had been drinking at a Tri-City Americans hockey game at the Toyota Center and didn’t feel safe driving home, so she asked Arroyos to drive.

It’s not clear how Arroyos got going the wrong way on the highway between Kennewick and Richland, but he was going west in the eastbound lanes when he crashed into a Nissan Versa, court documents.

The Versa driver, Eduard Ballesteros Morales, 35, of Kennewick, suffered a dislocated knee and other injuries in the collision.

Arroyos and Bounds were not wearing seat belts and also were taken to the hospital, but police reports don’t include information about their injuries.

Washington State Patrol troopers reported finding empty bottles of alcohol in the Explorer. Arroyos allegedly admitted to drinking, but couldn’t remember how much, court documents said.