Police: Car used as a weapon

A woman accused of using her car as a deadly weapon claims the faulty brakes were to blame.

Tresha D. Bachman, 34, of Green River, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James to two counts of aggravated assault and battery. If found guilty of both charges, she could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000.

According to court documents on Oct. 5, 2015, an officer responded to a call of a hit-and-run report. Once the officer arrived at the scene, he spoke to Roger Bachman, who said he and his estranged wife, Tresha, had an argument in the parking lot.

Roger said she made a comment to his wife about keeping their daughter away from her; and Tresha got mad.

Roger said Tresha then got into her 2001 silver Dodge Stratus and started to back out of the parking lot, she then put the vehicle into drive and accelerated directly toward Roger as he was placing his 3-year-old daughter into her car seat.

Roger told the officer he just had enough time to throw himself and his daughter into the car to avoid being struck by Tresha. Tresha’s car allegedly struck and damaged the passenger door and passenger side front fender. Tresha then left the scene.

The officer noticed the passenger door of Roger’s truck was caved in and the front fender was bent. Roger could not shut the passenger door.

Rebecca Pineda and Hailee Peterson witnessed the incident. They both said Tresha accelerated toward Roger and the 3-year-old girl. After Tresha allegedly hit the vehicle with hers, she left. Both of the witnesses thought Roger and the girl had been struck.

An officer contacted Tresha at her Green River residence and asked her about the incident. She claims she only drove toward Roger to get out of the driveway. She said her brakes needed replacing and it was hard for her to stop the car.

The officer observed that Tresha’s vehicle had damage to the front, driver side and middle bumped of the car. She was then placed under arrest.