Woman arrested for reckless DUI driving with 4-year-old child inside car, hits whippet during arrest
Apr 6, 2026, 6:00 AM | Updated: 3:04 pm
A Washington State Patrol (WSP) vehicle en route to a incident. (Photo courtesy of WSP)
(Photo courtesy of WSP)
A woman was arrested after driving under the influence while a 4-year-old child was in the car with her, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) confirmed.
According to WSP troopers, the driver had multiple near-collisions and conducted multiple illegal passings on SR 12 near Oakville before pulling into a private driveway.
Showing signs of impairment after she stopped driving, troopers intervened to arrest her. She struggled against initial arrest attempts, creating a small scuffle and taking a hit from a whippet before she was in custody.
Whippets are small, steel canisters filled with pressurized nitrous oxide, which are commonly misused as an inhalant drug to produce a quick, intense euphoric high, according to Children’s Health.
The woman was arrested for felony eluding, DUI, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment. Troopers and state officials are working to arrange custody and caretaking of the child, who was in the car during the under-the-influence driving.
This is a developing story, check back for updates
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