Police: Man tried to bribe patrol trooper after DUI crash

YAKIMA — A man arrested after a two-vehicle crash in Washington attempted to bribe a State Patrol trooper to avoid being arrested for drunken driving, authorities said.

The 66-year-old Sunnyside man allegedly offered the trooper money multiple times to release and not arrest him after a preliminary breath test showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.167%, about twice the state limit, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported Wednesday.

The Washington State Patrol and Yakama Nation Tribal Police responded to the car crash Tuesday.

An off-duty Toppenish police officer witnessed the crash and said the man ran a red light and struck another car before he was taken to the hospital and questioned, an affidavit said.

The man repeatedly offered a trooper amounts up to $2,000 to avoid being arrested, despite being told that was illegal, authorities said.

The suspect was booked into the Yakima County jail on suspicion of attempted bribery, driving under the influence of intoxicants, driving while his licenses was suspended and driving without a court-ordered ignition interlock device.

A judge set bail at $15,000 during a preliminary appearance hearing Wednesday.