RV pursuit ends with crash in Waitsburg
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, November 30th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WAITSBURG – The Walla Walla Police Department said a motor home that two detectives attempted to stop just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday fled east to Waitsburg before crashing. The motor home did not have a license plate and was exhibiting signs that its driver was impaired.
As the detectives initiated a traffic stop on U.S. 12 near Wilbur Avenue, the motor home failed to stop. As the detectives pulled up next to the motor home, they saw a female driver and a male passenger. As the motor home approached Interchange Road, there was a vehicle ahead that pulled over as the detectives had their lights and siren activated. As the other vehicle was pulling over, the motor home rear-ended it without making any attempt to slow down.
After hitting the other vehicle, the male passenger, Isaiah G. Guillen, 28, of Tennessee Colony, Texas, violently removed the female from the driver’s seat, threw her towards the floor and took control of the motor home. At the time, they were traveling at 40 miles per hour. Once Guillen got into the driver’s seat, he sped up to 75 miles per hour.
Believing there was a threat to public safety, the detectives asked the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to set up spike strips ahead. Spike strips were deployed in Waitsburg and were successful in deflating the motor home’s tires.
Guillen continue trying to elude, lost control of the motor home and struck a power pole in the area of Coppei Avenue and Preston Avenue. The motor home then crashed through a chain-link fence and came to a stop across from Preston Park on Coppei Avenue.
Guillen was unconscious and pinned in the motor home which appeared to be starting to burn as heavy smoke was coming from the engine. The female was conscious and exited the motor home on her own. Guillen was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. The female was medically evaluated on scene and released.
The Walla Walla Police Department reports the female admitted she was driving the motor home when detectives tried to stop the vehicle. She told officers she was attempting to pull over.
“It was at that time the motor home rear-ended the bystander vehicle near Interchange Road and she said Guillen ripped her out of the driver seat and threw her to the floor,” WWPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Nick Loudermilk wrote in a news release. “Guillen told the female, ‘We are both going to die tonight,’ as he was eluding the detectives.”
Guillen’s current condition is unknown. WWPD said the criminal investigation is ongoing and charges against him are pending. Guillen has two warrants for his arrest. One is out of Texas for a parole violation for possession of a controlled substance and another is out of Oklahoma for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Photo via Kevin Donovan
