Police say suspect struck man with car

By Rolf Boone | The Olympian • Published March 22, 2008

A 23-year-old man was booked into the Thurston County Jail on Saturday after he hit a man with his car while allegedly fleeing a fight at a party, a Lacey police officer said.

Travis Kivela of Tumwater was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault, officer Bob Lyon said.

Lacey police were called to the 3400 block of Ruddell Loop Southeast about 2:30 a.m. Saturday after a report of a fight at a party involving up to 30 people, he said.

While the police were en route, Kivela allegedly fled in his Dodge Durango and hit another man who was at the party.

The man who was struck was treated and released from Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with facial injuries, Lyon said. The man's name and age were not released.

Six men were in the Durango when Kivela was stopped. Lyon said all were intoxicated; however, police haven't yet determined whether Kivela's blood-alcohol level was higher than 0.08, the legal limit for driving in Washington.

Rolf Boone covers business for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5403 or rboone@theolympian.com.