Local

Police: Drowsy driver looking for place to sleep hits parked car with sleeping driver inside, sparking fight

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A drowsy driver in Bellevue who was looking for a place to sleep hit the car of a sleeping driver, who then awoke and started beating the man who struck his car.

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Bellevue police said the victim was driving through a parking lot on May 31 looking for a place to sleep.

While driving, the the victim fell asleep, drove over a planter and hit the suspect’s car in a parking stall.

The suspect, who was sleeping in his car, woke up, got out, walked up to the victim’s car and started to punch the victim in the face while he was still seated in his car.

The victim then grabbed his handgun from the glove box and the suspect backed off until police arrived.

Investigators said the victim claimed he grabbed his gun because the suspect was hitting him, and the suspect claimed he punched the victim because he saw the victim reaching for a handgun.

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The victim was taken to the hospital for a fractured orbital socket.

Both the victim and the suspect cooperated with police and said they did not know each other.

Police said the victim did not want to press charges against the suspect.