Suspected DUI Driver Kicks, Spits in Deputy's Face, After Driving Into Oncoming Traffic

A 20-year-old La Quinta woman who allegedly kicked and spat on a sheriff's sergeant after crashing into two vehicles while driving under the influence was released on bail Thursday, authorities said.

Riverside County sheriff's officials said a hit-and-run crash was reported about 10:55 p.m. near Washington Street and Fred Waring Drive.

The driver, identified as Whitney Harrison, first hit a vehicle after apparently turning too widely from Fred Waring onto Washington, and then continued to drive on Washington in the wrong direction, according to sheriff's reports.

"While making a right turn onto southbound Washington Street, her vehicle collided with another vehicle that was stopped at the intersection to obey the northbound red traffic signal," sheriff's Sgt. B.J. Adams explained.  "Whitney Harrison left the collision scene and continued southbound on Washington Street, against oncoming traffic, to collide with a second vehicle in the northbound lanes of Washington Street."

Harrison then made a U-turn on southbound Washington and stopped in the parking lot of an Applebee's restaurant. 

The drivers of the vehicles that were struck weren't hurt-- but a sheriff's deputy was assaulted, Adams said.

"While investigating the collisions, Whitney Harrison became combative with deputies and kicked a sergeant in the face before spitting on her," Adams alleged.

The sergeant wasn't hurt, he said.

Harrison was taken to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio as a precaution, then booked into the county jail in Indio. She posted a $3,000 bond Thursday, according to jail records.

– City News Service contributed to this report.