PUYALLUP, Wash. — A woman allegedly under the influence of drugs drove into a Puyallup home and injured an 81-year-old woman, according to Pierce County court documents.
Kasia Richter appeared in a Pierce County Courthouse on Friday and is charged with vehicular assault-DUI and driving while in suspended or revoked status. Bail was set at $50,000.
At 5:22 a.m., Richter was driving a Hyundai Accent that went off the street at 22nd Street SE and ended up colliding with a home at 2201 23rd Street Pl SE. The victim was sleeping at the time of the crash, and she was found with a door on top of her, according to Puyallup police. She suffered broken bones but is now in stable condition.
The driver of the vehicle missed a corner and lost control of her vehicle before crashing into the home. She was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspected vehicular assault. Puyallup PD said they believe the woman may have been impaired at the time of the crash.
According to court documents, an officer observed a small clear plastic baggie containing white residue on the driver's side floorboard in plain view. A crumpled-up piece of tin foil was also found on the driver's seat.
After Richter was transferred to the hospital, an officer found a "glass bubble commonly used for smoking meth" as well as powder that tested positive for fentanyl and a red digital scale.
A married couple as well as two children that are family members of the victim were also in the home at the time of the crash, although none of them were injured.
Police say the victim is in stable condition at the hospital.
The crash comes amid an alarming uptick in drivers getting behind the wheel under the influence.
“The last six days in Puyallup, we’ve had a day shift DUI or DRE, drug DUI," said Puyallup Police Captain Dan Bourbon. "So it is becoming more common, unfortunately, and at least in the city of Puyallup, it is causing more accidents and collisions.”
The Puyallup Police Department is urging people to be careful and think twice before they get behind the wheel.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.