A 19-year-old Kent man was arrested by Washington State Patrol for investigation of felony eluding, vehicular assault and felony hit and run after he fled from a trooper at about 7:26 p.m. Tuesday along State Route 167 and ended up in a four-vehicle crash that injured himself and two other drivers.
A trooper attempted to stop a 1998 BMW M3 sedan from speeding along southbound SR 167 near State Route 516 in Kent, according to the State Patrol. The BMW driver accelerated and eluded the trooper. The trooper deactivated and stopped the pursuit, but the BMW driver continued to drive erratically before exiting at the South 277th Street off ramp.
When the driver exited, he struck the rear of a vehicle stopped at the traffic light at the end of the off ramp. That vehicle was pushed into a third vehicle which then hit a fourth vehicle, each stopped at the light. The BMW came to rest in the second of three lanes, and the driver fled on foot. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies later apprehended the man.
Paramedics transported the Kent man to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Paramedics also transported by helicopter to Harborview a 58-year-old Auburn woman, the driver of the vehicle struck by the BMW. It is unknown if the Kent man wore a seat belt. The Auburn woman wore her seat belt.
The Kent man was treated and released at the hospital, according to a Wednesday email from a Harborview spokesperson. The Auburn woman remained in serious condition.
Paramedics transported a 28-year-old Seattle woman, the driver of the third vehicle, to Valley Medical Center in Renton. That woman also had three children with her, a 6-year-old boy, 2-year-old girl and 9-month-old baby. None of the children were injured. All were in child restraint seats. The driver also wore a seat belt.
The driver of the fourth vehicle was not injured.
Troopers listed speed as the cause of the crash. It was unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved.
Valley Regional Fire, Puget Sound Fire, South King Fire and Rescue and King County Medic One each responded to the crash.
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