Wrong-way crash leaves victim trapped in car for nearly an hour
Apr 24, 2026, 7:59 AM | Updated: 2:44 pm
Aftermath of the car a victim of a wrong-way crash was trapped in for nearly an hour. (Photo courtesy of Thurston County Sheriff's Office)
(Photo courtesy of Thurston County Sheriff's Office)
A driver was trapped in his car for nearly an hour after he was the victim of a wrong-way crash in Olympia Thursday night.
Deputies with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, medics, and firefighters were called to the scene of a multi-vehicle collision at Rainier Road and Fir Tree Road.
“The victim was entrapped in their car with substantial life-threatening injuries,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders stated on social media. “It took the fire department more than 51 minutes to cut them out of their own car, which had to have the entire roof and all of the pillars cut by the jaws of life.”
According to a witness of the crash, they were driving down the road when they observed the suspect driving at them in the wrong direction. The witness swerved out of the way before the suspect crashed head-on into the car behind the witness.
The driver who caused the crash attempted to flee on foot. He made comments to witnesses directly after the crash, claiming it “wasn’t his fault” before deputies detained him.
“The suspect had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and has been placed under arrest for DUI and vehicular assault,” Sanders said. “A search warrant was obtained to seize blood from the suspect for lab testing.”
Both the Yelm and Lacey Police Departments arrived at the scene to assist the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
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