Video Clip can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/kikP-BpZaJ8

Occupied Parked Patrol Car Hit by Suspected Impaired Driver

Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were at the scene of a previous call when a suspected impaired driver hit a marked patrol car that was parked with a Deputy inside.  The Deputy was evaluated at a hospital but, thankfully, appears to have only suffered minor injuries.  The driver of the truck was arrested and booked into jail for DUI.    

On September 11, 2024, at approximately 10:40 pm, Deputies were at a residence on N. Crestline Street, north of E. Bruce Avenue, at a previously reported call for service.  

While at the location, a northbound Ford F150 driven by 70-year-old James A. Clifford crashed into the driver’s rear/side of an occupied, marked patrol car parked on the east side of the road, behind a second marked patrol car.     

Despite extensive damage to the truck’s passenger side, Clifford continued driving for a considerable distance after the collision but finally stopped.  Deputies contacted Clifford, who had already exited the F150, and found that he was uninjured.    

When asked, Clifford said he was out, “enjoying himself,” and had been drinking “mostly beer.”  Deputies noted Clifford’s speech was heavily slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and watery, he swayed while standing, and a strong odor of an intoxicant was detected as he spoke.  When asked how much alcohol he had to drink, Clifford responded, “More than I should’ve.”

Clifford also admitted to using Marijuana earlier in the evening, claiming he wouldn’t have hit the patrol car if he hadn’t drunk too much alcohol.  He later declined to submit to voluntary field sobriety evaluations.  

With probable cause to believe Clifford was operating a motor vehicle while impaired, Deputies advised him that he was under arrest and placed him in handcuffs.    

Deputies requested and were granted a search warrant to obtain a sample of Clifford’s blood for later testing.

A criminal history check of Clifford showed a previous DUI arrest in 2020.  Later, in 2021, he pled guilty to an amended charge of Reckless Driving.

Clifford was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Driving Under the Influence (drugs/alcohol) after being medically cleared at the hospital.   

An assisting Deputy transported the Deputy, seated in the patrol car when it was struck, to the hospital for further evaluation.  He appeared to have sustained minor injuries/soreness and was released.  

Through a mutual aid request, Spokane Police Officers responded to conduct the traffic collision investigation.   

The damaged patrol car will be evaluated to determine the extent and estimated cost for repair. 

This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Video Clip: Occupied Parked Patrol Car Hit by Suspected Impaired Driver" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7