Driver in I-82 crash charged with fleeing scene, not having license

A motorist claims he drove off after smashing into the back of a van carrying a woman and her three kids on Interstate 82 because he was afraid he would be arrested.

Jeremy J. Todd was locked up 11 days later after witnesses led troopers to his Kennewick home, where a damaged SUV was parked out front.

Todd, 35, pleaded innocent Thursday in Benton County Superior Court to felony hit-and-run with injury and third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license, a misdemeanor.

His trial is set for July 18.

According to the Washington State Patrol and court documents, Elonna Holm was driving east in the right lane of the interstate when she noticed in her rear view mirror an SUV coming up fast on her minivan about a mile from the Badger Road exit.

“She reported that she moved over as far as she could, and was struck from behind, causing her to lose control and crash in the center median,” wrote Deputy Prosecutor Megan Killgore.

The van flipped, landing on its roof, and Todd allegedly drove off without stopping, said documents.

The Kennewick mom was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital in Kennewick after the May 9 crash. Her kids had bumps and bruises.

Another driver, Dan Holland, told troopers he came up to the flipped van about 5 p.m. and saw an SUV with front-end damage make a U-turn on the highway and pass him.

Holland gave troopers the license plate number of the SUV, and said it exited at Badger, court documents said.

That plate was traced to Todd, who is the registered owner of an SUV, documents said.

A trooper allegedly drove by Todd’s Kennewick home on May 14 and saw a damaged SUV.

Court documents claim witnesses identified Todd from photo montages. When he was arrested, he allegedly said he had been driving home from work in Yakima.

Holm suffered lung bruising and a concussion and needs help walking because of dizziness. She was released from the hospital May 18, but still requires rehabilitation, documents said.

Todd is being held in the Benton County jail on $25,000 bail.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Driver in I-82 crash charged with fleeing scene, not having license."