Early Friday in Cowlitz County, northbound Interstate 5 near Castle Rock briefly ground to a halt after an alleged drunk driver plowed into two Washington State Patrol vehicles while troopers were dealing with a stalled semi on the shoulder. The impact shoved one patrol car into another and left traffic tied up for hours on the main north-south artery through southwest Washington. Authorities said the driver was arrested and taken to a trauma center, while the troopers involved were reported uninjured.
According to WSP Public Information Officer Dakota Russell, troopers were already on scene for the disabled semi shortly before 3 a.m. The crash happened at about 3:10 a.m., when a vehicle allegedly failed to yield to emergency lights and hit one trooper’s car, triggering a chain reaction with a second cruiser. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI and airlifted to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center with serious injuries, and all northbound lanes were later reopened, according to KATU.
Troopers On The Shoulder Face Real Danger
Washington State Patrol records and past statements make it clear this is not a theoretical risk. The agency has pointed to a March 2024 collision in which a trooper was struck and killed on I-5 as a stark reminder of how hazardous roadside work can be, according to the Washington State Patrol. WSP also runs statewide “Slow Down, Move Over” emphasis patrols to remind drivers to change lanes when it is safe or slow down if they cannot, a safety push the Washington State Patrol has promoted. Officials say those simple steps help protect troopers, tow operators and anyone else working on the roadside.
This is at least the second recent WSP-related vehicle-strike incident. KATU reported that a trooper’s cruiser was hit on I-205 on March 12, and troopers say the repeat crashes highlight the danger when drivers do not move over. Motorists traveling through Cowlitz County should plan for lingering delays and consider alternate routes. The driver in Friday’s crash was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver (400 NE Mother Joseph Pl), according to PeaceHealth. If you see flashing lights on the shoulder, move over when it is safe and slow down; officials say that habit can save lives.
