On May 12 at approximately 2:14 p.m. a male suspect driving a gold, 1986 Honda Accord entered the parking lot of the Home Depot store at 1st Avenue South and South Lander Street at a high rate of speed. The suspect was driving erratically, and struck a pedestrian in the parking lot, then fled. The pedestrian was later transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. An off-duty Washington State Patrol Trooper, in full uniform, was working at the store at the time. The trooper headed across the parking lot on foot to investigate the hit and run collision to the pedestrian. At some point, the suspect drove directly and deliberately toward the trooper, possibly grazing him. Fortunately, the trooper did not sustain any injuries. The suspect drove out of the parking lot onto South Lander Street, striking another vehicle. The suspect then proceeded eastbound on South Lander Street to 6th Avenue South, where he struck at least three more vehicles. A Seattle Police Detective observed the suspect vehicle at 6th and Lander and followed the suspect to the 3900 block of 6th Avenue South where the suspect turned south and drove straight toward an oncoming semi-truck (approximately South Andover Street). It appears that the suspect drove deliberately into the front of the truck, colliding with it. The Honda caught fire, and Seattle Police Officers were able to extinguish the flames with fire extinguishers. The suspect was removed from the car and transported to Harborview Medical Center by SFD Medics with life-threatening injuries. The male driver of the semi-truck was not injured. The Seattle Police Traffic Collision Investigation Squad responded to the multiple crime scenes and continues to actively investigate.
Major crash investigation in SODO District
by May 12, 2009 4:38 pm
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