A driver on the Key Peninsula turned a simple traffic stop into a low-speed spectacle when the hood of the car flipped up, blocked the windshield and still did not end the ride. Deputies say the 32-year-old motorist kept creeping along Key Peninsula Highway as smoke poured from the vehicle and patrol units closed in.
Hood Pops Up, Driver Keeps Going
A Pierce County deputy reported following the car as it crawled along and braked repeatedly in the 14000 block of Key Peninsula Hwy before the driver drifted into the oncoming lane during an attempted traffic stop, according to Pierce County Sheriff's Office. In the video posted online, the hood appears to cover much of the windshield while the driver tries to wrangle it and still continues down the highway at speeds reportedly kept under 50 mph. Deputies also recorded smoke billowing from the tires and engine as the car made several risky moves on the two-lane road.
Pursuits on the peninsula are not unheard of. Earlier this winter, another Key Peninsula chase ended in a crash and criminal charges, a reminder of how quickly rural roads can turn dangerous during traffic stops, as reported in an earlier Key Peninsula chase.
Spike Strips, PIT Maneuver Shut It Down
Kitsap County deputies ultimately rolled out spike strips that hit the suspect vehicle, and a Pierce County deputy performed a PIT maneuver that disabled the car at Bethel Burley Road and Cashmere Road. The driver was taken into custody without further incident, according to Pierce County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's post identifies the driver as 32 years old and says the person was booked on charges that include eluding, driving on a suspended second-degree license and a felony Department of Corrections escape community custody warrant. The video shows the suspect briefly stepping out of the car, then jumping back into the driver's seat before the PIT maneuver brought the situation to an end.
Charges and Legal Fallout
Under Washington law, trying to outrun or outmaneuver a patrol car is not treated lightly. RCW 46.61.024 makes attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle a class C felony in many circumstances, with additional license and sentencing consequences possible depending on the facts and prior criminal history. The other alleged offenses - driving on a suspended license and an outstanding escape-from-community-custody warrant - create separate legal exposure as prosecutors and the Department of Corrections decide how to proceed.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office says the investigation remains active and has posted the dash and patrol video on its Facebook page. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators.
