SEATTLE'S MORNING NEWS

Video: Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders nearly T-boned by DUI driver in Tumwater

Jan 23, 2026, 10:15 AM

Dashcam video footage showed the moment a suspected drunk driver nearly T-boned Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders in Tumwater Thursday night.

Sanders posted the video on Facebook, showing a car blowing through a stop sign at what he estimated was double the speed limit.

“Tonight I was on my way to the station to obtain a search warrant for an unrelated case when a vehicle nearly T-boned me by blowing through a stop sign,” Sanders wrote.

After pulling the driver over, Sanders said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol and observed multiple alcoholic beverages inside the car with alcohol spilled on the passenger floorboard.

The driver was arrested for DUI and reckless driving.

Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here. 

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Video: Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders nearly T-boned by DUI driver in Tumwater