A free doughnut deal for graduates caused a traffic jam Tuesday around the Krispy Kreme north of Padden Parkway.
An employee of The Columbian said in an email Tuesday afternoon that her daughter and a friend were waiting in a long line of cars to get the free treat, and traffic was backing up onto Interstate 205.
Krispy Kreme said in a news release that it was giving away a dozen doughnuts Tuesday to high school and college seniors, if they showed up to the stores in their caps and gowns. The company said it was giving away the doughnuts so graduates unable to walk across the stage due to COVID-19 could still have something sweet.
The “2020 Graduate Dozen” includes an assortment of classic varieties: chocolate iced cream filled, strawberry iced cream filled and cake batter filled varieties, among others. The deal was only available on Tuesday.
Vancouver Police Department Lt. Kathy McNicholas said officers went to the area earlier in the morning, around 9:30 a.m., to check on reports of cars lined up south on Northeast Andresen Road. The officers did not direct traffic; they only observed that people were following traffic laws, she said.
Shortly after noon, police officers returned to the area for a malicious mischief incident. Someone called 911 to report that a man exited his vehicle and punched another person’s car with his fist, McNicholas said.
“He had alleged the victim cut into the Krispy Kreme line. The victim had left the area and was contacted by phone,” the lieutenant said.
An officer is following up on the incident, tracking down witnesses.
Krispy Kreme said on its website that the response to the free deal was overwhelming, and some locations ran out of the Graduate Dozen.
