Olympia traffic stop leads to 100 mph chase and I-5 crash
By: -----
DuPont, WA - Thurston County deputies arrested a Kent man after he allegedly led them on a high-speed pursuit from Olympia to DuPont around midnight Thursday.
The pursuit started near the Intercity Transit offices on Martin Way East and reached speeds as high as 100 miles per hour, Thurston County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lt. Cameron Simper told The Olympian.
The 27-year-old Kent man fled east on Martin Way in a BMW X5 and later traveled north on Interstate 5, Simper said. He eventually crashed his vehicle near exit 118, which leads to Center Drive in DuPont, at around 12:13 a.m., according to Simper and traffic updates from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The traffic updates indicate the HOV lane and two left lanes were blocked.
Sheriff Derek Sanders shared video of the pursuit on Facebook Thursday afternoon. The video shows the Kent man allegedly crash the vehicle into a divider and then run across the highway.
Thurston County K-9 Mac pursued the Kent man after the crash and bit his arm, Simper said. Deputies apprehended the man and transported him to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries, he said.
Deputies later booked the Kent man into the Thurston County jail on suspicion of first-degree criminal impersonation, eluding police, second-degree driving while license suspended, resisting arrest and a Washington State Department of Corrections felony escape warrant, according to Simper and Sanders.
A deputy initially stopped the BMW in Olympia for lane travel and turn signal violations, which are often indicative of driving under the influence, Simper said. A 22-year-old Olympia man was in the driver's seat and cooperated with law enforcement, he added.
During the traffic stop, the deputy noticed that the passenger, who was later identified as the Kent man, was sitting on a buckled seat belt rather than properly wearing it, Simper alleged.
This observation gave the deputy cause to ask the Kent man to identify himself, Simper said. The Kent man allegedly provided a fake name, he said.
The Kent man allegedly moved to the driver's seat as the Olympia man stepped out of the vehicle with his hands in the air, Simper said.