Van driver with suspected DUI flees on wrong highway side, Tacoma WA
TrafficA U-Haul van driver suspected of driving under the influence refused to identify himself and was uncooperative with law enforcement. The driver led police on a high-speed pursuit on highway WA-512, traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes, posing danger to other motorists. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle using spike strips and considered breaking a window to apprehend the suspect.
Audio|Source: Pierce County Sheriff Dispatch - East
07:3
Transcript:
00:00
5-85. Can you use to put in the call? He's refused to identify himself. We have drug paraphernalia and a notebook container,
00:08
and supposedly he's on the phone with his attorney.
00:12
Okay, that's 1-3-1.
00:18
We'll be clear with a report.
00:21
CLEA 461-30.
00:28
We're about to break the window and drag him out.
00:32
Traffic 916 in Pacific, one that's not cooperative, breaking off the window. He said to take off.
00:41
Head southbound, we have a good terminator.
00:43
Hey,
00:45
southbound. Head southbound one thirty-five.
00:52
611 Pacific.
00:55
611 Pacific-131. We're coming out to the odds now. He's driving an oncoming southbound, 3100.
01:02
PC[1] for obstruction and DUI[2].
01:06
He's still an oncoming, cars are getting out of the way. He's got his head lights on.
01:10
Speed 080 right now.
01:13
Right traffic.
01:15
We flash in his headlights to prevent other people seeing them.
01:19
Or to show that everybody's coming.
01:22
We're approaching 101 right now.
01:25
We're approaching 108.
01:27
We're taking a left. We're going to get on 512. We're going to get on 512.
01:32
What direction?
01:34
We're behind you, we can call you.
01:36
We're going eastbound on taking the 512X. Sorry, nope, not take 512 exit.
01:42
It's going on the wrong way.
01:49
You still on the out?
01:55
704th monitoring.
01:57
He's wrongly on 512. He's going eastbound in the westbound lanes.
02:03
Eastbound the westbound lanes of 512. Yep.
02:05
Checking.
02:08
The fly Piala.
02:11
Let's see, one day.
02:17
Yeah, we got a good terminator on the left side, driver and rear.
02:24
Bruce, is you still right on it?
02:27
Negative.
02:28
But it's a U-Haul van. I believe there's actually one on the hot seat. Yeah, we do see it up there.
02:33
There is one on the hot sheet. Looks like you might be coming up to like a golden given. I think we're trying to get caught back up.
02:43
Okay, I'm not at 112th in Portland.
02:47
512 in Portland again?
02:51
We're approaching Portland now.
02:53
We see in the oncoming lanes to travel.
02:56
We are in the correct length to travel right now.
02:59
Speeds are about, I would say, 80s, what he's going.
03:03
He is in the far wing.
03:08
We see if I'm 12 approaching far along there again. He is a possible B-U-I.
03:14
Island again.
03:17
All right, still traveling eastbound in the westbound lane and the number two lane.
03:24
His headlights are out, but he's turning them on and on to let travel the drivers know that he's on the road.
03:30
Steve, there are approximately 65 miles an hour.
03:33
There is very little traffic on the road.
03:35
Roads are dry.
03:37
So he found out of the westbound leaves are probably full possible point out of 140.
03:48
If we get some sticks up ahead, look at the cars are still 70 miles an hour.
04:00
We're parking the canyon next to now.
04:04
These are 70, very little traffic.
04:09
So, we see, so we follow up on the same-line-size-cold pushing Canyon loss to air 140.
04:16
Canine 12 is number 3 in the stack.
04:19
T912 is number 314.
04:22
Received.
04:24
If he foothills, we'll stay in the car.
04:27
Speeds are still 60 miles an hour.
04:31
We're approaching the canyon overpass now. I'll let you know what he does if he tried to get on or not.
04:39
Proceed one for you.
04:45
12-past 6 at 512 and 31st.
04:50
See if he's not going to be taking the exit, so we're getting up under the canyon overpass now.
04:56
Speeds are 65 miles an hour.
04:59
There's still very little traffic. The roads are still dry.
05:02
We've got a unit in front of us just, I guess, notifying the oncoming drivers that there's a car going down the wrong side of the road.
05:14
See all found?
05:17
If the off will block the road down there on 512.
05:21
We're trying to get to see all there too. ...one 104th in case the stops and bails northbound.
05:31
All right, speeds are still 60.
05:35
We're approaching the 94th accident.
05:39
We're going to a couple miles.
05:40
Spees are seven miles an hour,
05:42
still very little traffic. It looks like he's driving on the shoulder right now.
05:48
Just off by there's construction by the mall.
05:54
Recite. Oh,
05:57
Frisia.
05:59
Place 17, we'll get to a 6-5-12, then that's 6-7.
06:03
We're going to go ahead and shut down our lights coming up to the construction, see if they'll get them to back off and get off the freeway here.
06:15
Forangery, I'm westbound by toll. Do you guys have eyes on right now?
06:20
Yep, we still got eyes on.
06:22
We're getting close to the 94th exit right now.
06:26
Speeds are still 60, still on the shoulder.
06:37
And we have sticks on the long ramp of 94th and 512 he takes that off ramp.
06:47
690, 4th, 512. Was there a second person in the car?
06:51
Do you? Talk about one.
06:55
First day, one for you. I'm sorry. Just flew past me. Continue on the high seat.
07:02
Go on. Good.
Police codes explained
The following codes appeared in the transcript and are explained below:
[1]
PC: Legal justification to arrest, charge, or take enforcement action based on established facts or evidence.
[2]
DUI: Driving Under the Influence
Disclaimer:
This transcript was automatically generated and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify the information independently.
Location mentioned:
WA-512, Washington
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