Wrong-way driver crashes into state trooper on SR-520
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- A driver going the wrong way on State Route 520 slammed head-on into a Washington State Trooper's patrol car early Tuesday and then took off again before being captured, officials said.
The trooper was not hurt and investigators believe the wrong-way driver was drunk.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Julie Judson said the driver was spotted going west in the Eastbound lanes of 520 just after midnight.
Two cars collided while trying to avoid the wrong-way driver, but no one was hurt in that crash.
The wrong-way driver then crashed into Trooper Andrew Boyer near Montlake before speeding off again.
"He then drove past me very, very slowly," Boyer said. "I pretty much stared right at him as he drove right past me. He just had a very blank look on his face."
After hitting Boyer's patrol car, the driver got onto the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 going the wrong direction, but his heavily-damaged car finally gave out just north of the Ship Canal Bridge.
The 26-year-old Seattle man ran from the car and jumped over a barrier near NW 42nd Street and fell about 20 feet, Judson said.
"He didn't realize it would be quite a fall," she said.
Seattle police captured the driver and he was taken to Harborview Medical Center to be checked out.
After he is released from the hospital he will be booked into jail for investigation of DUI and hit and run, Judson said.
The trooper was not hurt and investigators believe the wrong-way driver was drunk.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Julie Judson said the driver was spotted going west in the Eastbound lanes of 520 just after midnight.
Two cars collided while trying to avoid the wrong-way driver, but no one was hurt in that crash.
The wrong-way driver then crashed into Trooper Andrew Boyer near Montlake before speeding off again.
"He then drove past me very, very slowly," Boyer said. "I pretty much stared right at him as he drove right past me. He just had a very blank look on his face."
After hitting Boyer's patrol car, the driver got onto the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 going the wrong direction, but his heavily-damaged car finally gave out just north of the Ship Canal Bridge.
The 26-year-old Seattle man ran from the car and jumped over a barrier near NW 42nd Street and fell about 20 feet, Judson said.
"He didn't realize it would be quite a fall," she said.
Seattle police captured the driver and he was taken to Harborview Medical Center to be checked out.
After he is released from the hospital he will be booked into jail for investigation of DUI and hit and run, Judson said.
They believe he was drunk? Going the wrong way, even on I-5 and making a jump not knowing how high, yeah, there's enough evidence right there.
The wrong-way driver then crashed into Trooper Andrew Boyer near Montlake before SPEEDING off again.
Â
"He then drove past me very, very SLOWLY," Boyer said.
I hope the other drivers that tried to avoid this idiot weren't seriously hurt, either. This idiot shouldn't be allowed to drive again.
Sounds like full blackout. Lucky, people. One thing about our police forces, they have a job where as much as they may try to eliminate the need, it's nothing more than straight luck keeping so many of them alive in so many bad situations. Even no harm no foul situations.
I was crossing I-80 between Cali and Nevada in winter. I stop in Grass Valley for a new set of chains and ended up having to buy nylon ones instead of real chains, which I put on well short of Truckee in mild blizzard conditions, 8 ft of packed snow on the road. The line was miles long, and nearing Truckee, I got waved off by a Trooper because one of those crappy chains had come off. Problem was, I couldn't get off due to blockage of the offramp, and as they weren't letting anyone on the onramp just beyond yet, they direct us to drive to the onramp and get off the highway that way. So our line is doing this, with a Trooper at the top directing. A wreck happened a couple vehicles away from him and a big pileup happened right where he was standing. He'd had to jump from the roadway. But as we'd been directed to do what the line was doing, no harm no foul, even his totaled cruiser. Problem for him really was that the night was just beginning for all of us on Donner Pass that blizzarding year. There were too many of us on the Pass to leave there with that much snow already having had to have been rolled down rather than plowed, with the weather getting worse after dark. Not nearly enough support services available, and even helos couldn't fly. Reno never looked as good, not even the first time I went there.
Oh, yeah, and just another warning about chains. The first crappy set cost $78.00 in Grass Valley, and the real set cost me over $300.00 at the gas station in the very next town.
For this incident alone he should get the prison time but after that is finished this boob should never be licensed again regardless of whether he cleans up his act.
In short, throw him on, or under, the nearest bus.
 @StreetPizza that won't stop them we need to find a way to monitor all drivers with suspended licences to keep the rest of us safe
There sure are a lot of hit and runs lately. Either they are unlicensed, intoxicated or uninsured.
 @swansong68 and sometimes all of the above
This one needs to go to prison for a minimum of 5 , and not be allowed a license for a minimum of ten, and only after showing that (A) no traffic violations, (B) Proof of liability insurance (C) if the liability insurance is allowed to lapse or said person gets another traffic violation, license suspended for 5 more years. and if caught driving on suspended licensed , Prison and lifetime forfeiture of privilage to drive. time to crack down on these Morons that put the rest of our lives at risk.
Wont stop him...he will just buy a car cash and drive it off. Watch and see.
take away his license forever, and when he's caught driving without a license, throw him in jail until he rots...
He is waking up this morning with a killer hang over and anxiety as he realizes where he is and begins to piece the night together. He won't recall what exactly he was booked on but will be hearing from the judge this morning as his bail is set. Multiple hit and runs, felony DUI, assaulting a police officer, etc.
 @fumblefacedolt And will then whine that as he doesn't recall what happened, it couldn't really have been 'him' doing all that stuff and that life is JUST unfair.
When are we having classes to teach twenty somethings to have a brain?Â
 @Citizen#3457899654 Please, this kind of stupid doesn't improve with age. There are plenty of 20 somethings and even teens who don't do this sort of thing too.
It's not their brain, it's their brain on alcohol.