The family of a commercially licensed truck driver killed in a collision involving a fleeing suspect and Lakewood police officers is pursuing legal action against the City of Lakewood and individual members of its police force, alleging that an unlawful pursuit directly caused the death.
Federal court filings filed this week lay out a stark account of choices and consequences that led to a tragedy on June 29, 2023, that claimed the life of 57-year-old Bohdan Vetrov.
Vetrov was driving a semi-truck lawfully through an intersection in Lakewood, Washington, when a stolen vehicle driven by a 16-year-old fleeing from police ran a red light and collided with his cab.
The teenager survived, but Vetrov died at the scene. According to court records, Vetrov, a father of seven, emigrated from Ukraine with his family in 2017 and served as the primary financial support for his household. The loss has left his family struggling both financially and emotionally, their attorneys say.
Allegations of a “Rogue Pursuit” and Rule-Breaking
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, accuses the Lakewood Police Department of failing to follow state law and departmental policies governing high-speed pursuits.
The legal claim contends that the officers involved lacked the required training and certification to engage in a pursuit, did not communicate with a supervising officer, and failed to assess the risk to the public before continuing the chase.
According to attorneys representing the Vetrov family, one officer, identified in court documents as Officer Cole Craner, documented that he was confident of a suspect’s identity and residence but made no attempt to coordinate a planned arrest.
Instead, he and another officer trailed the vehicle through a residential neighborhood, turning on lights and sirens after the suspect was spotted driving lawfully. As the suspect fled, the officers continued at high speeds and did not terminate the pursuit even after the driver ran a stop sign and, later, a red light at a busy intersection.
The lawsuit describes the incident as a “rogue pursuit” that violated both Lakewood Police Department pursuit guidelines and Washington state law addressing vehicular pursuits.
It asserts that less dangerous alternatives were available, such as surveillance at a safe distance or containing the situation within the nearby Tillicum neighborhood whose layout could have limited escape routes.
A $26 Million Suit and a Broader Accusation of Culture
In their filing, attorneys Mark Lindquist and Angus Lee argue that the officers placed urgency to apprehend a suspect above the safety of the general public. They contend that adherence to policy in handling pursuits can prevent needless loss of life.
“Police can catch the bad guys without endangering the public if they follow the rules and use common sense,” Lindquist says in a statement included in the suit. The lawsuit seeks $26 million in economic and personal damages, covering both financial losses and emotional distress suffered by the family.
The legal action also names Lakewood Police Chief Patrick Smith and the two officers who initiated the chase, including Craner and Officer Sean Urckfitz, as defendants. The complaint alleges that the department’s leadership and training protocols contributed to a culture that permitted hazardous decisions on the road.
The Question of Accountability and a Call for Reform
Compounding the family’s case is the allegation that following the crash, the Lakewood Police Department took no disciplinary action against the officers nor conducted an internal review of the pursuit. Court documents claim that nine officers lacked certification in the pursuit intervention techniques mandated by department policy and state law at the time of the incident.
The crash and ensuing legal battle raise broader questions about how police departments handle vehicle pursuits and how civilian lives can be endangered as a result.
Experts in law enforcement tactics emphasize that decisions made in seconds during high-stress situations carry consequences that can outlive the moments themselves. In this case, the family’s lawyers argue that following existing procedures would have prevented the loss of an innocent life.
Lakewood officials have not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit beyond routine statements acknowledging the legal process. With litigation underway, the family hopes their pursuit of justice will prompt changes in policy and accountability that will spare other families from similar loss.
Sources: KIRO 7 News Seattle, Spokesman-Review