2 deputies nearly hit by suspected drunken driver

Two King County sheriff’s deputies say they were nearly hit by a suspected DUI driver in Renton where SR 167 meets I-405.

The driver hit their patrol cars instead.

The deputies say they were in the middle of clearing up an earlier scene at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

They had just finished with another driver who had left the scene when one deputy noticed a car barreling toward them. Both deputies were outside their patrol cars.

One officer grabbed his fellow deputy and narrowly got him out of the way before the impact sent at least one patrol car into the air.

“We were standing between the two cars close to the Jersey wall talking and Pat yelled and grabbed me and I heard screeching tires and I grabbed Pat,” said Sgt. John Hall.

“Seeing the car go airborne, it was like moving in slow motion,” said Sgt. Patrick McCurdy.

The deputies said it was sheer luck that neither of them were hit and they feel lucky to be alive.

The deputies then helped the driver get out of his vehicle and he was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

He’ll be booked on investigation of DUI.