SEQUIM — A Joyce man was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County jail after a high speed chase which started west of Sequim and ended at the Jefferson County and Mason County line.
The chase early Friday morning was at times more than 100 mph and included the sheriff’s offices from both counties.
Frank Peter John Wrbka, 51, was still being held at the Jefferson County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office gave this account:
Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Knutson at about 3 a.m. Friday tried to stop Wrbka, who the Sheriff’s Office said was speeding, in his white pickup as he drove east on U.S. Highway 101 near Kitchen-Dick Road, a news release from the Sheriff’s Office said.
Wrbka slowed and pulled over but then sped off, with Knutson following at times at faster than 100 mph, the news release said.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office took over the chase when it crossed the county line.
Wrbka did not pull over and continued to speed away from the law enforcement car, which had both lights and sirens going, the news release said.
Nearly 45 minutes after the chase began, the pickup ran out of gas near the Mason County line, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Wrbka on investigation of driving while intoxicated and attempting to elude, the news release said.
Wrbka has not yet been formally charged, but information has been forwarded to both Jefferson and Clallam counties prosecutors and because the chase took place in both counties he could be charged in both locations, the news release said.
His arraignment date was not available Sunday.
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
