A motorcyclist was severely injured in a hit-and-run by a drunk driver on northbound Interstate 5 in Thurston County on Tuesday.
The at-fault driver, identified by the Washington State Patrol as Jason D. Bennett, 51, of Gig Harbor, is facing possible vehicular assault, DUI and felony hit-and-run charges.
Bennett was reportedly driving a black 2006 BMW 325i in the right lane of northbound I-5 while Aadin G. Gosser, 19, of Salem, Oregon, was riding a red 2007 Honda VT600 motorcycle in the center lane.
Bennett reportedly changed lanes at milepost 93, driving into the center lane and pushing Gosser’s motorcycle into the left shoulder barrier.
The crash was reported at approximately 9:55 p.m. on Feb. 10.
The roadway was blocked for approximately three hours and 37 minutes.
Bennett allegedly fled the scene and parked on the right shoulder of the ramp to Maytown Road from northbound I-5, according to WSP.
Gosser was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and was later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Gosser was wearing a U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant helmet at the time of the crash, according to WSP.
WSP has determined that DUI was the cause of the crash.
