A high-speed police pursuit that started near Castle Rock turned into a terrifying rollover crash in Centralia on Tuesday morning, when a white Nissan Altima flipped over the center barrier of Interstate 5 and slid into oncoming traffic, according to law enforcement. The car, carrying three adults and a small child, came to rest on its roof after skidding an estimated 400 feet near the Mellen Street overpass. Despite the chaos, the infant escaped without reported injuries. State troopers and local officers arrested the adults after at least some of them tried to bolt on foot, and southbound traffic briefly shut down while crews dealt with the wreckage.
How the chase unfolded
It began when a Castle Rock officer attempted to pull over the white 2014 Nissan Altima on northbound I-5. Instead of stopping, the driver pushed the car into triple-digit territory, authorities said, before losing control. The Altima slammed into the center barrier, vaulted into the southbound lanes, and slid on its roof for hundreds of feet, hitting other vehicles as debris scattered across the interstate. According to KPTV, a Washington State Patrol press memo placed the wreck near milepost 81.
Speed and suspects identified
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the Altima topped 125 mph during the pursuit and identified the driver and passengers based on booking records. The outlet also reported that the infant found in the car was later placed with child protective services. Those details, including the names of the adults involved, come from the paper's coverage of the crash and its aftermath.
Child uninjured, police warn about seat belts
Investigators told reporters that the child inside the Altima was not secured in a car seat yet somehow escaped injury, while two of the adults were treated for injuries after the rollover. Centralia Police posted video of the crash on social media, pairing it with a blunt caption: “You can outrun the speed limit, but you can't outrun physics,” a reminder to slow down and buckle up. The patrol's update and the city’s online warning were carried by KIRO 7.
Arrests and legal status
All three adults were taken into custody at the scene after the failed foot escape and booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on multiple charges, according to the Washington State Patrol. Investigators told reporters that they suspect drugs or alcohol may have played a role in the pursuit and subsequent crash. The booking details and the patrol’s statements were reported by KPTV.
Traffic impact and witness requests
The wreck briefly shut down southbound I-5 and clogged nearby streets as emergency crews cleared the scene, creating a major headache for Centralia-area commuters. Both the Washington State Patrol and Centralia Police are asking anyone with dashcam footage or other information to contact investigators as they work to sort out what triggered the initial traffic stop and the decision to flee. The call for witnesses and the extent of the traffic disruption were noted by KIRO 7.
