Teen jailed in Highway 11 crash
By Terry Murry on Monday, March 1st, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
MILTON-FREEWATER – Avery Tristann Bell, 18, of Milton-Freewater is in Umatilla County Jail facing charges involved in a crash on Highway 11 at milepost 17 early Saturday morning. She was taken into custody by the Oregon State Police several hours after the crash.
A trooper responded to a passenger car vs. semi crash and while responding that witnesses reported an intoxicated female driver of the car had been picked up at the scene and was traveling northbound towards Milton-Freewater. At the scene, the trooper met the registered owner of the car, who said her vehicle had been stolen and then wrecked.
Three eyewitnesses at the scene confirmed that a picture of Bell was the person who left the scene. The trooper then went to the female’s residence, but a family member refused to allow entry explaining that the suspect was “blackout drunk,” according to the report. She was arrested later Saturday.
Preliminary charges against Bell include unauthorized entry into and use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
