Kirkland man suspected of driving under influence charged with vehicular assault

A Kirkland man suspected of driving under the influence was charged with vehicular assault after he was speeding on Interstate 405, clipped the back of another vehicle and rolled into a ditch on Saturday.

A Kirkland man suspected of driving under the influence was charged with vehicular assault after he was speeding on Interstate 405, clipped the back of another vehicle and rolled into a ditch on Saturday morning.

Emil Rafikov, 29, was driving a black 2006 Lincoln Town Car southbound on I-405 just south of Exit 17 when he clipped the back end of a 66-year-old Kirkland woman’s 1999 Dodge Caravan, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Driving at a high rate of speed, Rafikov lost control of his car, went off the roadway and his vehicle rolled over into a ditch around 1:44 a.m. south of Northeast 70th Place.

Neither Rafikov nor the Kirkland woman were injured, however, a passenger in Rafikov’s car was injured and transported to Harborview. Both vehicles were totaled and impounded.

Rafikov was booked into King County Jail.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating the case and troopers said drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.