A Washington State Patrol trooper's attempt to stop a Toyota Corolla on State Route 3 near Newberry in Silverdale on Thursday afternoon triggered a pursuit that tore through Bremerton's back streets before ending in a head-on crash with a Toyota Prius. The suspect, described as a person in their 30s, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center with a broken leg, while the Prius driver was treated at a local hospital for bumps, bruises and neck pain.
According to KOMO, the trooper tried to stop the Corolla as it traveled south on State Route 3 near Newberry, and the driver instead fled, with the pursuit continuing onto Bremerton's back streets before the Corolla lost control and struck the Prius head-on. The crash blocked Riddell and Essex streets in Bremerton as crews responded to the scene Thursday afternoon.
Trooper Suspected a Link to Another Crime
WSP said the trooper believed the Corolla might be connected to another crime, though the nature of that suspected offense was not detailed. Investigators reported observing paraphernalia inside the Corolla and are now seeking search warrants to examine the vehicle further, with warrants for the Corolla still being pursued as of Thursday's report.
WSP also said the Corolla allegedly contained a shotgun, though a separate account indicates that report remains unconfirmed. Hoodline is presenting both versions because the record is unsettled on this point.
How the Crash Unfolded
The fleeing Corolla crashed head-on with the Prius in Bremerton, an impact serious enough to send the suspect to Harborview Medical Center by air with a broken leg, authorities said. The Prius driver was being treated at a local hospital, per WSP, suffering bumps, bruises and neck pain from the collision.
A separate WSP pursuit ended in a crash in Federal Way. A separate WSP chase ended in a crash on northbound I-5 in Federal Way during Wednesday's morning commute, according to KIRO 7. That crash happened around 5:40 a.m. just north of SR 18 and blocked the center three lanes after troopers were contacting a vehicle at a rest area when it fled; spike strips were successful, and the vehicle struck another car near SR 18. The driver and a passenger were taken into custody, and the station reported that a number of guns were found inside that vehicle. All lanes had reopened by around 7 a.m.
Thursday's crash adds to a string of recent Washington State Patrol pursuits that have ended in collisions. A separate WSP chase ended in a crash on northbound I-5 in Federal Way during Wednesday's morning commute, according to KIRO 7. That crash happened around 5:40 a.m. just north of SR 18 and blocked the center three lanes after troopers were contacting a vehicle at a rest area when it fled; spike strips were successful, and the vehicle struck another car near SR 18. The driver and a passenger were taken into custody, and the station reported that a number of guns were found inside that vehicle. All lanes had reopened by around 7 a.m.
Another Federal Way-area pursuit proved far more deadly. A driver fleeing a WSP trooper on southbound I-5 allegedly traveled about 13 miles before the suspect vehicle struck another car, killing one person and injuring three others, according to the Federal Way Police Department as reported by KOMO. The 24-year-old Kent driver in that case was arrested on suspicion of DUI, eluding and vehicular homicide.
Statewide figures suggest injuries are a frequent outcome of these chases, though the full context of the data was not available. A Washington legislative report found that suspect drivers were injured in 7.6% of pursuits, with officers hurt in 2.4%, passengers in 2.5% and bystanders in 2.6%, according to a report submitted to the state legislature.
No further details on potential charges against the Bremerton suspect have been released, and investigators' search of the Corolla had not been completed as of Thursday afternoon.
