License plate left at scene identifies hit and run, DUI suspect

A license plate left at a Tumwater intersection helped police identify a 32-year-old Napavine man as the suspect in a hit-and-run collision that injured a man.

Christopher M. Rieg was arrested Tuesday morning and booked into the Thurston County Jail. He appeared before Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon on Wednesday, and bail was set at $50,000. Dixon found probable cause for two criminal charges: hit and run, and driving under the influence.

Dixon said Rieg had previously faced similar charges.

“It doesn’t get much more serious than this,” Dixon said. “Mr. Rieg is a danger to the citizens of the community. He continues to drink and drive, allegedly.”

According to court documents, a woman was driving east on 93rd Avenue Southwest at the intersection with the southbound Interstate 5 ramp when her car was struck by a black sedan. The passenger in her car reported that his neck was injured in the collision.

An officer found a license plate at the scene, and the car matching the plate was registered to Rieg, according to court documents. The officer was able to locate a jail booking photograph of Rieg.

The officer drove down Old Highway 99 and saw a woman and a man who matched the booking photograph standing by the side of the road. The man identified himself as Rieg.

The officer noticed that Rieg’s speech was slurred. He was administered a blood alcohol test at about 10 a.m. His first blood alcohol level registered as 0.156 and the second registered at 0.169, according to court documents. Driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more is illegal.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 5:02 PM with the headline "License plate left at scene identifies hit and run, DUI suspect."