Port Orchard police chase ends in violent wreck
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- A Friday morning police chase in Port Orchard ended in a violent car crash that sent an innocent man to the hospital.
A Port Orchard patrolman first noticed what he believed to be a stolen 2010 Honda CRV just before 11:30 a.m. near SE Carl Pickel Drive and SE Lund Avenue, according to police.
The officer ran the plates and found they were registered to a 2008 Ford Escape that had been reported stolen last week in East Bremerton.
The officer hit his lights and tried to pull the car over, but the driver sped off. He turned onto westbound SE Sedgwick Road, at which point a second patrol car joined the chase. The pursuit continued to the intersection at Sidney Road SW, where the driver turned, heading southbound, according to police.
Police say the Honda was driving 60-70 miles per hour when the driver tried to pass a Ford Ranger, but soon realized another car was barreling down at him in the opposite direction.
The Honda driver gave up on passing the truck and tried to move back behind, but police say the driver didn't leave enough room and crashed into the rear of the pickup.
The force of the crash knocked the truck into a drainage ditch, where it hit a retaining wall and flipped over, according to police.
The Honda came to a stop next to the truck and police apprehended a male driver and a female passenger.
Rescue crews were able to pull a 64-year-old South Kitsap man from the truck and he was rushed to Tacoma General Hospital with unknown injuries.
The 44-year old Port Orchard man who was driving the Honda was arrested and booked into jail on a host of charges, including vehicular assault, driving under the influence, possession of a stolen vehicle and felony eluding. His bail was set at $100,000.
The 34-year-old passenger, also from Port Orchard, was taken to Harrison Medical Center for evaluation. After being checked out, the woman was booked into jail for possession of methamphetamine. Her Bail was set at $10,000.
A Port Orchard patrolman first noticed what he believed to be a stolen 2010 Honda CRV just before 11:30 a.m. near SE Carl Pickel Drive and SE Lund Avenue, according to police.
The officer ran the plates and found they were registered to a 2008 Ford Escape that had been reported stolen last week in East Bremerton.
The officer hit his lights and tried to pull the car over, but the driver sped off. He turned onto westbound SE Sedgwick Road, at which point a second patrol car joined the chase. The pursuit continued to the intersection at Sidney Road SW, where the driver turned, heading southbound, according to police.
Police say the Honda was driving 60-70 miles per hour when the driver tried to pass a Ford Ranger, but soon realized another car was barreling down at him in the opposite direction.
The Honda driver gave up on passing the truck and tried to move back behind, but police say the driver didn't leave enough room and crashed into the rear of the pickup.
The force of the crash knocked the truck into a drainage ditch, where it hit a retaining wall and flipped over, according to police.
The Honda came to a stop next to the truck and police apprehended a male driver and a female passenger.
Rescue crews were able to pull a 64-year-old South Kitsap man from the truck and he was rushed to Tacoma General Hospital with unknown injuries.
The 44-year old Port Orchard man who was driving the Honda was arrested and booked into jail on a host of charges, including vehicular assault, driving under the influence, possession of a stolen vehicle and felony eluding. His bail was set at $100,000.
The 34-year-old passenger, also from Port Orchard, was taken to Harrison Medical Center for evaluation. After being checked out, the woman was booked into jail for possession of methamphetamine. Her Bail was set at $10,000.
This comment has been deleted
 @Carson Steele I feel the same towards DRUNKS.
It amazes me that the thief thought he could get away in a honda when two cruisers are chasing him.
We really need something in addition to Three Strikes to address habitual, career criminals. The Leftys can take a hike on the subject as far as I'm concerned.Â
Meth...shocker. I too hope the unwitting victim will be OK.
 @Thunder What's the shocker? I'm shocked at how many idiots still drink and especially the ones who drive. Worst drug in the world.
A 44 year old loser........ most likely a career criminal. 30 years in prison should keep us all safe for awhile.
The driver of the stolen vehicle should simply be dropped a couple hundred miles offshore, strapped to a buoy, and left to his fate.
There is a reason they used to hang horse thieves. Just sayin'.I have had my own car totaled by a couple punks in a stolen car. They blew through a stop sign, way over the speed limit. They tried to drive off, but the car made it about 20 feet and died. They got out and ran. Dirtbag scum thieving meth heads.
 @Bornhere It seems like all meth users steal (just about anything) and lie about everything. What country is it that they cut their hand off? Maybe we should consider it. When the punishment doesn't fit the crime...crime grows.
 @Bornhere They hung horse thieves because you were stealing the only effective means a farmer had to transport his crops to market. Take the horse, starve the family.
Â
I still believe that if you steal the only effective means of a man feeding his family, you should be hung.
Awful! Best wishes to the driver of the truck.
Hang em! Hang em both!
P'sOS......Hope the innocent man fully recovers.
Automatic grounds for execution.
That looks like it hurt, I hope everything will be fine for the Innocent man and he has a speedy recovery,Â
Would it matter to you, if it was your vehicle being stolen; that the cops would let them go on their merry way?While you get to walk to work and have to replace your personal property out of your own pocket?
Dear Port Orchard Smart Cop:
Â
Was the chase worth it?
 @Harrison Sadly enough, yes. If the police establish a policy of no chases then all a criminal has to do to escape is to drive away quickly. A worse outcome for society, I believe.
 @Iconoclast  @Harrison
there's this crazy invention called a "radio" and a new tactic called a 'roadblock' that allows police to prevent criminals from getting very far. Hot pursuit chases are banned by King county police just for that reason that innocent people get hurt.
 @Peter Donahue  @Iconoclast  @Harrison @ Peter...smartest comment yet.
 @Harrison Yeah, I guess we should just let all thieves go free lest anything bad happen...
@Harrison
How about we hold this POS responsible for this crime and make him work this off and repay the cost of his incarceration and ALL the damages he caused. Yes this amounts to slavery... it used to be called indentured servitude. You work for free for the person you owed moneys to till you had it paid off. It seems like it might just be time to bring this back. We need to make people responsible for their actions and letting them run off and not having to pay will only make it worse!
make it worse!
 @bustedupredneck Make him an indentured servant to the victims.
@Harrison If you never engage in a chase what will people do when they are about to be pulled over for a crime? They'll gun it.
Â
Not chasing would likely lead to an increase in high speed drivers, not a reduction.Â
 @HarrisonÂ
How can a chase be "worth it"?
Â
Like it was the Port Orchard cops fault.  We expect them to catch criminals but then we expect them not to.  We criticize them for doing nothing and we criticize them for doing something. We expect them to tell the future.
Â
Darned if you do...darned if you don't.
Â
Sorry that an innocent person was hurt! Â The bad guy should be held accountable.