Update: Blown tire leads to West Richland council member’s DUI arrest

West Richland City Councilwoman May Hays was arrested Friday for driving under the influence after she had car trouble and a Washington State Patrol trooper stopped to help.

Hays, who is currently running for mayor, was booked into the Benton County jail on Friday, Aug. 22, and has since been released.

Trooper Daniel Mosqueda told the Tri-City Herald on Wednesday that several people called 911 about 5:20 p.m. to report a car broken down along the side of Highway 240 near Van Giesen Street at Richland.

She posted on Facebook Tuesday night that she was on her way home after visiting a friend when one of her tires blew out.

The trooper who showed up to help was specially training to recognize drunk and high drivers. Mosqueda said the trooper determined she was impaired.

Benton County prosecutors confirmed they are handling the case but no other information was released.

Hays told the Tri-City Herald on Tuesday that she “takes full responsibility” for her action.

She committed to handling the issue with transparency. “I have personally taken steps to ensure that it never happens again,” she said.

Hays is a native Tri-Citian who went to school in Pasco before moving to West Richland in 1997.

She worked for 25 years as a community relations operations specialist for Benton REA utility, served as the West Richland Chamber of Commerce executive director and owned two local businesses.

She joined the city council after winning a 2021 election.

She currently is challenging outgoing Mayor Brent Gerry’s handpicked successor, Mayor Pro-Tem Fred Brink. Gerry is not seeking re-election.

This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM.