Port Angeles police say driver of stolen truck flees through construction zone

Port Angeles police say driver of stolen truck flees through construction zone

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman was taken into custody after police said she struck another car, fled the scene and led officers on a vehicle chase through construction on Marine Drive before taking off on foot.

Kymberlie Ciulla, 23, was booked Friday into the Clallam County jail, where she remained Saturday for investigation of felony eluding a police vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Police learned of a hit-and-run wreck at Front and Race streets at about 1:50 p.m. Friday, according to Port Angeles Police Officer Clay Rife.

Rife did not provide details of that collision but said the other driver identified the pickup truck and its driver.

Rife said he and Officer Jared Tait spotted the Ford Ranger pickup — which had been reported stolen in Port Angeles the previous week — at Third and Lincoln streets and attempted to make a traffic stop.

The pickup eventually pulled over on Marine Drive, and Rife and Tait approached it on foot, police said, but the truck took off again westbound into a one-lane construction zone at what Rife estimated was about 40 mph.

Tried to block pickup

When the driver of a dump truck and trailer attempted to block the pickup, the pickup swerved across the centerline, jumped the curb onto the grassy area on the south side of the 900 block of Marine Drive and continued about 50 yards before returning to the pavement, police said.

After the dump truck pulled out of the way, officers followed until the pickup driver tried to turn left onto Hill Street, spun 180 degrees on wet pavement, and slid into a ditch, police added.

Rife said Ciulla then fled on foot but was caught near the Hill Street intersection after a foot chase of about 50 yards.

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