Suspected Drunk Driver Hits Police Cars

Two Burbank Police Officers narrowly escaped injury early Wednesday morning, when a suspected drunk driver struck their patrol cars.

The incident began shortly before 2 a.m. when the two officers in separate patrol cars were on a traffic stop on Lake St. just south of Olive Ave., next to Community Chevrolet.  They were alerted to something out of the ordinary when they heard the noise of metal on pavement.  The officers observed a Mini Cooper automobile heading west on Olive Ave. with one tire gone, driving on the metal wheel.

As the Mini Cooper driver made a wide left turn onto southbound Lake St., the mirror on her car struck the first patrol car.  The officer had just gotten into the car, and had barely gotten the door shut when the collision occurred.  The second officer was standing between the two patrol cars, and jumped clear as the Mini Cooper driver sideswiped the second patrol car.   Neither officer was injured.   The patrol cars received minor damage.

The Mini Cooper driver, identified as Katherine Elizabeth Keklak, 29, of Burbank, did not stop after colliding with the patrol cars.   She was pulled over on Lake St. at Tujunga Ave.   According to police, she failed to satisfactorily pass a field sobriety test, and was placed under arrest for driving under the influence, misdemeanor hit and run, and interfering with officers.  Her bail was set at $15,000.

A man who is reportedly the woman’s boyfriend, stopped near where she was pulled over.  The officers had noticed his car following the Mini Cooper. When he approached the officers, they suspected that he may have been drinking.   Daniel Joseph Elson, 32, of Burbank, was also arrested for driving under the influence.  His bail was set at $5,000.