Texting driver crashes into home

KENNEWICK – A Kennewick man learned the hard way that he shouldn’t text, eat and drive – especially while in a stolen truck.

Jeromy K. Kirkendall, 32, was on Garfield Street near 45th Place at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday when he lost control of a 1989 Chevy S-10 truck, which had been previously stolen in Richland, said Mike Blatman, Kennewick police spokesman.

Kirkendall went into a ditch and drove through some logs and lawns before hitting a home, Blatman said.

Neighbors and the homeowner saw Kirkendall run away from the scene and a Benton County sheriff’s deputy in the area arrested him a short time later.

Kirkendall later told police he was eating a croissant and reading a text message when he lost control, Blatman said.

Kirkendall was booked into the Benton County Jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property.