Fleeing driver killed in multi-vehicle crash during Yelm police pursuit
Jul 7, 2025, 11:26 AM
A photo of Washington State Patrol and Yelm Police Department vehicles on the scene. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Patrol)
(Photo courtesy of Washington State Patrol)
A high-speed chase of a fleeing vehicle resulted in a deadly crash involving multiple vehicles on State Route 507 on Sunday.
The Yelm Police Department (YPD) observed a speeding vehicle on Vail Road, which then fled after an officer initiated a traffic stop, leading to a high-speed pursuit.
Deadly multi-vehicle crash in Yelm
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In a social media post on July 6, Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper John Dattilo noted that a driver was speeding at about 80 miles per hour (mph) in a 50 mph zone in Thurston County.
A YPD officer initiated a traffic stop with the speeding driver, and the suspect soon fled from police, and a pursuit ensued on northbound SR 507.
Troopers and @wsdot_tacoma are on scene of a multi vehicle collision blocking all of SR 507 just south of 312th St.
This collision occurred while @yelmpd was in pursuit of a fleeing vehicle. More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/WrtJoRVNTq
— Trooper John Dattilo (@wspd1pio) July 7, 2025
The suspect lost control of the vehicle south of 312th St, struck a vehicle heading southbound, and then collided with a YPD car in the northbound lane.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle was ejected from the car as a result of the collision and died despite life-saving efforts from the officer involved.
The two people in the southbound vehicle were transported to local hospitals in stable condition following the collision, and the officer was also transported and expected to be ok.
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