Three people were taken to the hospital Monday evening after a rollover crash on southbound Interstate 5 in Cowlitz County, and the driver accused of causing it now faces a DUI charge. The crash was reported just before 7 p.m. at milepost 32, snarling traffic and leaving one car blocking a nearby on-ramp.
According to KATU, Washington State Patrol identified the driver as 41-year-old Joshua Dieringer of Gresham. Investigators say Dieringer hit the back of another car, causing it to crash and roll into the median along southbound I-5.
Crash Blocks Northbound On-Ramp
Dieringer's car came to a stop blocking the northbound on-ramp after the collision, according to the same report. The driver of the other vehicle, a 70-year-old man from Vancouver, was also taken to the hospital, along with Dieringer and his passenger.
Investigators said speed and impairment were factors in the crash. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene, and Dieringer now faces a DUI charge in connection with the collision.
What Washington Law Says About DUI Charges
Under Washington law, a person is guilty of driving under the influence if they operate a vehicle in the state and, within two hours of driving, have an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, or are otherwise found to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor, cannabis, or any drug, according to RCW 46.61.502. The statute outlines the legal threshold investigators rely on when determining impairment in crashes like this one.
