Charges filed against woman involved in five-person crash in Spokane Valley

Prosecutors have filed six charges against a woman suspected of causing a two-vehicle collision in Spokane Valley that left five injured – including at least one who is in intensive care.

Brooke Benton, 22, of Spokane Valley, is accused of driving a dark-colored SUV in excess of 70 mph and evading police before crashing into another SUV at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley, injuring five others on Saturday.

One of those injured, Mark Coladonato, 36, is still in intensive care. Colodonato and his four friends were returning from Northern Quest Casino when their vehicle was struck.

Newly filed court documents say the defendant was acting strange and seemed to be “tweaking,” leading responding officers to believe she was under the influence of drugs. According to a police affidavit, Benton admitted to having done meth about 30 minutes before the crash.

When officers arrived on scene, Benton pretended she was a passenger in the other car, court documents say. When she was unable to give the driver’s name and other officers recognized her, officers determined she was in fact the driver of the vehicle responsible for the crash.

Benton is facing three charges of vehicular assault, one charge of attempting to elude a police vehicle, and charges of escape and giving a false statement. She is being held in Spokane County Jail on $250,000 bond.

Court documents indicate she has an extensive criminal history in Spokane County.