SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash – The man arrested for hitting a child in Spokane Valley has a history of DUIs and had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
Tuesday night, an off-duty officer saw a Jeep hit a truck that was parked in a driveway on North Calvin Road.
The driver then drove through the grass before swerving back towards the road, hitting a 6-year-old that was on the sidewalk.
The Jeep then slammed into a house.
The child was unconscious at the scene, and suffered serious injuries.
Deputies found 69-year-old John Lassey still sitting in the Jeep when they arrived. They say he smelled of alcohol and had trouble standing.
Lassey told deputies he was having chest pains and swerved to avoid the kids, but later admitted having “four or five beers” in the hours before the crash.
According to court documents, Lassey had a blood alcohol content of .12. He was initially taken to the hospital, then booked on vehicular assault charges.
Neighbors near the crash told 4 News Now they believe they have frequently seen Lassey driving drunk in the area and have called the police about him before.
In court Wednesday, the judge noted Lassey has three prior DUI convictions. His bail was set at $100,000.
The child suffered a serious cut to his face. He also has a broken pelvis and broken femur.
The sheriff’s office says that while the child is stable, he will likely require future surgeries.
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