Early Wednesday, a Washington State Patrol trooper brought a terrifying wrong-way spree to an abrupt end by forcing a stolen vehicle to crash on southbound Interstate 5, after its 19-year-old driver repeatedly entered the freeway going the wrong direction. The pursuit ended in Lakewood near the SR 512 interchange, temporarily shutting down lanes on I-5 while crews cleared the scene. Authorities said the trooper and both occupants of the vehicle avoided serious injuries.
Photos from the scene: pic.twitter.com/HEsaiStmBo
— Trooper Kameron Watts (@wspd1pio) March 4, 2026
Trooper Ended Pursuit With Intentional Crash
According to The News Tribune, Trooper Kameron Watts said the pursuing trooper deliberately caused the collision after the driver entered I-5 going the wrong way multiple times. The incident started in Tacoma and finally wrapped up in Lakewood on southbound I-5 near SR 512, where the intentional crash stopped the fleeing vehicle. The News Tribune reports the trooper did not suffer serious injuries and was able to take the 19-year-old driver into custody at the scene.
Arrests And Charges
Washington State Patrol told KIRO 7 that the teen driver went the wrong way on Interstate 5 four separate times before a trooper intervened and the crash finally ended the chase. KIRO 7 reports the 19-year-old was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault, attempting to elude, possession of a stolen vehicle and reckless endangerment.
Troopers also arrested a female passenger after learning the car had been reported stolen, according to KIRO 7. Officials told the station that neither person in the vehicle suffered serious injuries in the crash.
Traffic Impact
The News Tribune reported that the left three lanes of southbound I-5 near the SR 512 interchange were shut down for cleanup after the collision. State traffic updates showed the roadway reopening shortly before 3 a.m. Drivers in the early morning hours were stuck with backups while troopers investigated, cleared debris and had the damaged vehicles towed, briefly snarling traffic through the Lakewood stretch of the freeway.
Wrong-Way Driving And Pursuit Tactics
Wrong-way incidents have been on the rise statewide, and the Washington State Department of Transportation has rolled out new detection systems and improved signage to catch drivers before they head up an off-ramp in the wrong direction, according to WSDOT. In high-risk pursuits involving stolen vehicles, troopers have at times used intentional collisions or PIT maneuvers to stop suspects, a tactic highlighted in local coverage by FOX 13 Seattle during a 2018 chase.
Legal Next Steps
State Patrol told KIRO 7 that Pierce County prosecutors will review the case before deciding on formal charges beyond the initial booking. Booking is only a preliminary step and does not determine guilt; any charges will move through the court system as investigators finish their work.
Washington State Patrol investigators are continuing to examine the scene and review evidence from the chase. Troopers have asked anyone with dash-cam footage or tips related to the incident to contact State Patrol as the investigation continues.
