Speeds reached 105 mph in I-5 police chase

Published 3:23 pm Wednesday, February 23, 2011

SEATTLE — A police pursuit that started in Snohomish County ended late Wednesday morning in a rollover crash on I-5 near the Northgate Mall.

Investigators said the suspect’s vehicle reached speeds of 105 mph, officials said.

The wreck blocked two southbound lanes near Lake City Way in Seattle early Wednesday afternoon, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating. The fleeing vehicle, a Saturn sport utility vehicle, struck a Jeep that then rolled onto its side.

Rebecca Hover, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, said a deputy tried to pull over a black SUV for speeding around 11:30 a.m., but the driver fled.

The SUV drove westbound on 132nd Street SW in south Everett.

“The deputy stopped pursuing the driver, but the driver continued to flee, blew (through) a stoplight, hit a car and continued driving,” Hover said.

Nobody was injured in the first collision.

While the pursuit was unfolding, a woman called 911 to report that a man she knew had assaulted her and threatened her with a knife. She said he drove off in her black Saturn SUV, Hover said.

“We made the connection and began looking for the suspect again,” Hover said.

The suspect was spotted on southbound I-5 in the Lynnwood area.

Deputies tried to pull him over, but he kept driving, Hover said.

The pursuit continued into Seattle where the suspect struck the Jeep, causing both vehicles to roll over.

A woman who was in the Jeep suffered a possible broken arm and neck strain. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Hover said.

The suspect, 42, was taken to Harborview to get clearance to be booked into jail.

“His next stop will be the Snohomish County Jail, where he is expected to be booked on numerous counts, including assault, vehicle theft, vehicular assault and eluding police,” said Hover.

Darren Sweeney of Lake Stevens said he was driving south on I-5 near 164th Street north of Lynnwood when a black SUV raced by him followed by two Snohomish County sheriff’s cars.

He said he was worried that someone could have been seriously hurt or killed in the high-speed pursuit on a busy freeway.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.