A Saturday night police pursuit in Kent ended in tragedy when a 56-year-old Seattle man suspected of impaired driving crashed and died, authorities said. Officers smashed out the vehicle’s windows, deployed an automated external defibrillator and performed CPR until medics arrived, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The car left the roadway and hit a utility pole at West Valley Highway and South 228th Street, and police said no one else was injured.
Crash and police response
According to KING 5, an officer tried to pull the driver over on suspicion of impairment when the man took off, accelerating north on Washington Avenue. The pursuit ended when the driver lost control and slammed into a utility pole at West Valley Highway and South 228th Street. Officers found him unconscious and trapped inside the wrecked vehicle. The crash was reported at about 9:21 p.m., and investigators say no other vehicles or people were involved.
Impaired driving remains a major risk
Traffic safety officials say the Kent crash reflects a broader statewide problem, where impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of deadly wrecks. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission reports that impaired driving has been a factor in roughly 48 percent of preliminary fatal crash counts so far in 2024, making it the most common risk factor in deadly collisions across the state. In response, state agencies have stepped up enforcement and public education in an effort to push down what has been a multi-year rise in roadway deaths.
Investigation continuing
Kent police say the crash remains under active investigation and have not released additional details, according to KING 5. Detectives are asking anyone who may have information about the pursuit or the collision to contact the department as they work to piece together exactly what happened.
