UPDATE: Driver in Apartment Crash Suspected of DUI

UPDATE, Tuesday July 31, 11a.m.: Kirkland Police say the female driver of a small station wagon that crashed into an occupied apartment in Kirkland Sunday evening is suspected of using drugs or alcohol. An investigation continues and charges are pending, said Officer Audra Weber. The 42-year-old driver drove in reverse into the apartment unit on 4th Avenue at about 7:35 p.m. Sunday. The two occupants, a man and a woman, narrowly escaped injury, and the driver was also uninjured.

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Original story:

Two residents narrowly escaped injury Sunday evening when the driver of a small station wagon backed into their apartment unit on 4th Avenue, one block north of downtown Kirkland.

“The car went all the way in, from what I gather,” said Capt. Keith Adams of the Kirkland Fire Department, acting Battalion Chief at the time. “When we arrived, the car was out. Looks like the driver went in, said ‘uh-oh,’ and then went forward.”

The crash occurred 7:35 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 4500 block of 4th Avenue.

Neither of the two residents nor the driver were injured. Adams called the two residents extremely lucky. “I think they were, I really do. It was crazy,” he said.

The Red Cross was called to assist the residents with temporary housing, and Adams said a building inspector for the City of Kirkland examined the unit. The manager or operator of the apartment complex apparently planned to call a contractor to repair the damage on Monday.

A Kirkland Fire Department ladder truck, fire engine and an aide car, along with a medic unit from responded to the crash.

Adams was not sure exactly how the motorist managed to drive in reverse all the way into the unit. Kirkland police were on the scene investigating. Kirkland Patch has a call in to the police department and will update the story as soon as possible.