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DUI Suspect Arrested After Striking Washington State Patrol Car on I‑5

Updated (4 articles)

Collision Occurred Near South 72nd Street on I‑5 crash happened early Saturday near South 72nd Street on Interstate 5 in Tacoma when a sedan entered the right shoulder and treated it as a travel lane, striking a Washington State Patrol vehicle [1]. The driver was later identified as being under the influence of alcohol, prompting a DUI investigation [1]. The impact occurred while a trooper was standing beside the patrol car, and the incident was captured by responding officers [1].

Trooper Sustained Minor Injuries but Re‑Entered Vehicle The officer standing next to the patrol car suffered only minor injuries from the collision [1]. Despite the impact, the trooper was able to climb back into his vehicle and maintain control of the scene [1]. He then proceeded to detain the suspect once the sedan was stopped [1].

Suspect Fled Southbound Before Police Stopped Vehicle After hitting the patrol car, the suspect’s sedan continued traveling southward on I‑5 rather than stopping at the scene [1]. Law enforcement pursued the vehicle and eventually halted it further down the highway [1]. The driver was taken into custody shortly after the vehicle was stopped [1].

Charges Include DUI and Hit‑and‑Run The arrested individual faces charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident [1]. Authorities indicated that the suspect will be processed for both offenses pending a court appearance [1]. The incident underscores ongoing traffic safety concerns on Washington’s major highways [1].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 2, 2025 – A vehicle collides with a northbound Washington State Patrol car on I‑5 near Seattle while the trooper is responding to another incident; the trooper sustains no injuries, the driver of the striking vehicle is taken to a hospital for minor injuries and is not suspected of impairment, and the crash remains under investigation [4].

Dec 30, 2025 (≈9:30 p.m.) – Washington State Patrol attempts to stop a driver on East 72nd Street and McKinley Avenue in Tacoma; the driver flees, enters the right shoulder, and crashes into a second vehicle, igniting both cars; firefighters extricate the second driver, who suffers serious injuries, while the fleeing driver is arrested on suspicion of DUI [3].

Jan 2, 2026 – Trooper Kameron Watts posts on X that the driver injured in the Dec 30 crash has died at the hospital despite intensive medical care, and notes the suspect may now face vehicular homicide charges pending medical clearance [2].

Feb 21, 2026 (early morning) – A DUI‑suspected driver strikes a Washington State Patrol car on I‑5 near South 72nd Street in Tacoma; the trooper standing beside the car sustains minor injuries, the suspect continues south before being stopped, and is arrested on DUI and hit‑and‑run charges, with investigators continuing to determine the cause [1].

Feb 2026 onward – Washington State Patrol announces that the investigation into the Feb 21 patrol‑car collision remains ongoing, and further updates are expected as authorities review video and witness statements [1].

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