Driver who hit at least 12 vehicles on I-5 was in jail this week for DUI
Dec 8, 2016, 11:50 AM | Updated: 12:13 pm
Update: Video of the 22-year-old man suspected of hitting at least 12 vehicles was released by the Washington State Patrol.
Video of suspect vehicle from the multiple vehicle hit and run NB 5 near Columbian from yesterday ! pic.twitter.com/hC9LARF5BO
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) December 8, 2016
The 22-year-old arrested for hitting multiple vehicles on Interstate 5 in Seattle was pulled over earlier this week on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.
The Associated Press reports the man was booked into Island County Jail on investigation of DUI on Tuesday. He was released pending the outcome of toxicology reports.
Pursuit on Lake City Way ends in fatal crash
The man was taken into custody Wednesday evening after a multi-vehicle hit-and-run crash.
The driver attempted to flee northbound on I-5 by taking a u-turn on the freeway and driving the wrong way onto an on-ramp.
“Something is going on with this individual and he started hitting cars and went the wrong way on the ramp,” said Trooper Rick Johnson.
The incident caused an extensive traffic backup on I-5 through Seattle in both directions.
The Washington State Patrol responded to the incident around 4:52 p.m. The driver struck at least 12 vehicles while traveling on northbound I-5. He then took a u-turn to drive onto a freeway on-ramp coming from Colombian Way and the West Seattle Bridge, Johnson said. At one point on the ramp, the driver stopped his car and fled the scene on foot.
“Seattle police were able to apprehend him and waited for us to get there,” Trooper Johnson said. “What I saw is that they were holding him down (when I got there). He was restrained and the fire department came to check him out. The decision was made to transport him to Harborview (Medical Center).”
“We believe something is going on,” he said. “We’re not sure as far as impairment, like if it is a mental episode or if something else was causing all this.”
The Seattle Fire Department also tended to minor injuries reported by drivers and passengers in cars that were hit on I-5. Johnson said that it was lucky only minor injuries were reported.
“Any time you have a vehicle go the wrong way on a ramp, even in heavy traffic, you have the potential for bodily injury,” Johnson said. “Essentially, the vehicle becomes a weapon.”
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