A routine traffic stop in Washington State turned into a multi-car collision, a vehicle fire, and a foot pursuit in the span of about seven minutes on Saturday afternoon. The incident, which unfolded across several blocks in the Tacoma and Lakewood area, left four people hospitalized, including two children, along with one Pierce County sheriff’s deputy who was also taken in for treatment.
The sequence of events began around 5:22 p.m. when a Pierce County deputy attempted to stop a vehicle near the Alta Apartments off Steel Street S. in Tacoma. Rather than comply, the driver accelerated away, setting off what would become a particularly messy series of decisions. Deputies managed to deploy a GPS tracker on the car and backed off the pursuit, a now-common tactic used to reduce the immediate danger of high-speed chases in populated areas.
The brief reprieve did not last. The suspect’s vehicle came to a stop at 84th and Yakima Ave., where deputies approached and attempted to make contact. Instead of cooperating, the 22-year-old driver was reportedly trying to pull the tracking device off the car. Within moments, he was back behind the wheel and fleeing again for a second time, erasing any goodwill the initial tactical pullback might have generated.
The second run ended at the intersection of 110th Street S. and Pacific Avenue S. at approximately 5:29 p.m., where the fleeing vehicle collided with another car carrying four occupants, two of them children. A third vehicle was also caught up in the wreck. One of the cars involved caught fire. The suspect bolted on foot but was taken into custody shortly after. Deputies also noted a firearm in plain view inside the suspect’s vehicle, and he is expected to face DUI charges in addition to the other counts stemming from the pursuit.
A Tracking Device That Actually Worked
The use of a GPS tracker during the initial phase of the chase reflects a broader shift in how law enforcement handles vehicle pursuits. Instead of maintaining a high-speed tail through residential streets, deputies backed off after successfully tagging the vehicle.
It bought time and reduced risk briefly, but the suspect’s own decision to stop and then flee again rendered the approach only partially effective.
Three Vehicles, One Fire, Multiple Injuries
The collision at Pacific Avenue S. involved three cars total, according to the Washington State Patrol. The four occupants of the vehicle struck by the fleeing driver, including two children, were transported to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
One deputy was also hospitalized, though details on the nature and extent of that injury have not been released.
A Gun in Plain Sight
Investigators noted that a firearm was visible inside the suspect’s vehicle without any need for a search. That observation adds a weapons component to what was already a serious case, and will likely factor heavily into the charges the 22-year-old faces.
DUI processing is also underway, suggesting the initial traffic stop may not have been random.
Road Closure Extends the Impact
Pacific Avenue S. at SR 512 remained closed following the crash as investigators worked the scene. For a corridor that connects significant portions of Lakewood and the broader Pierce County area, that closure carried its own ripple effect on Saturday evening traffic. The intersection at 110th and Pacific is a busy stretch of SR 7, and any prolonged shutdown there tends to push congestion well beyond the immediate area.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol are continuing their investigation.