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Seattle Police Officer Flagging Traffic South of Downtown Struck and Injured by Hit & Run, DUI Driver

An off-duty uniformed officer flagging traffic south of downtown is struck and injured by a Hit & Run, DUI driver early this afternoon.  

On April 18th at approximately 1:59 p.m. officers responded to reports of a hit and run collision involving a pedestrian at 1st Avenue South and South Atlantic Street. Preliminary investigation indicates that an adult male suspect was driving a white 1999 Cadillac El Dorado southbound on 1st Avenue South approaching South Atlantic Street. The suspect came upon coned off lanes set up for City Light construction crews and was stopped by a uniformed, off-duty Seattle Police officer flagging traffic around the coned off zone. The suspect was stopped for attempting to drive around the coned off area.

The uniformed officer was wearing a bright yellow reflective traffic vest with police identification on it and his police uniform clearly visible underneath the vest.

The suspect refused to comply with the officer’s directions. The suspect backed his car up, then accelerated toward the officer, striking the officer with his vehicle. The officer rolled onto and then off of the hood of the Cadillac and landed on the pavement . The suspect then did a U-turn and accelerated away from the scene driving northbound on 1st Avenue South and turning east on South Royal Brougham Way.

Fire department medics responded to the scene and treated the 41-year-old officer. Medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment of his minor injuries. The officer has since been released from the hospital. 

A King County Metro Transit police officer located and stopped the suspect vehicle in the 3800 block of Airport Way South. Seattle Police officers responded to the scene of the stop and assumed control of the investigation. 

Officers evaluated the 51-year-old male suspect (driver of the Cadillac) for signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The suspect displayed signs of impairment and was placed under arrest.

The suspect was taken to Harborview Medical Center where a blood draw was performed as part of the DUI investigation.

The suspect will be booked into the King County Jail for DUI and Hit and Run.