Police blame fleeing driver for crash that left a child in critical condition

A four year old is in critical condition after a driver trying to outrun police crashed into a vehicle with a family of four inside.

Police say the crash took place after an officer approached a 21-year-old Graham behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The man had parked at a business on 31st Ave. S.E., just east of SR 512 near Puyallup’s South Hill Mall.

Police say when the man saw the officer coming to talk to him, he drove off recklessly.

The officer did not pursue the driver.

Two minutes later, 911 dispatchers received a report of an accident a couple of blocks away from where the driver sped away.

Witnesses say a man ran a red light at the eastbound ramp to 512 at the top of Meridian Hill.

When police arrived, they determined it was the same driver the police officer had approached in the parking lot of the business.

Investigators say his vehicle struck a family’s vehicle as the family attempted to turn left onto the freeway ramp.

Police say the vehicle he hit was occupied by a family of four.

All four family members were hurt, including a four year old who’s now in critical condition.

First responders report one person had to be extricated from a vehicle.

Puyallup crash investigators and medics respond to a bad crash near Puyallup’s South Hill.  A 4-year-old victim is in critical condition from the crash. (Photo: Puyallup Police Dept.)

Medics transported the four family members to a hospital.

The Graham man was also hospitalized.

Police say he’s being investigated for a possible charge of vehicular assault.

The collision resulted in the closure of the 31st Ave. overpass above SR 512, which was closed for an extended period of time.

The Metro Cities Collision Response Team is investigating the crash.