Deputies say woman sped away during DUI stop, caused injury crash

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A 35-year-old woman is being charged with vehicular assault after Thurston County deputies say she fled during a DUI stop and caused a serious-injury crash moments later.

The incident began around 10:30 p.m. Sunday outside of Olympia when a deputy stopped a suspected DUI driver on Steilacoom Road near Avalon Court Southeast.  Police said when the deputy asked the woman to get out of her vehicle for a field sobriety test, she refused and instead put her vehicle into gear and took off at a high rate of speed.

The deputy tried to catch up with the woman, who ran a stop sign at Dutterow Road Southeast and Steilacoom Road and then crashed into a vehicle at the intersection, police said.

Investigators said the crash was so violent that it sent both cars careening through the intersection.

The victim in the other vehicle, a 41-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital by medics and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The suspect was also transported to St. Peter Hospital with less severe injuries.

She was later arrested on charges of vehicular assault. Police said other charges are pending.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating.

KIRO