Washington State trooper PIT driver after a high-speed pursuit across Kittitas County
By: A 22-year-old Yakima man is facing multiple charges after leading authorities on a harrowing high-speed chase across Kittitas County on Wednesday night, November 13.
The incident began around 5 p.m. when a concerned citizen called 911 to report a silver Infiniti sedan driving erratically on State Route 97 south of Yakima. A Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper located the vehicle and, suspecting the driver was intoxicated, initiated a traffic stop. However, the driver fled the scene, triggering a chase that spanned nearly 70 miles.
The Infiniti raced up I-82 and onto I-90, where Kittitas County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) deputies joined the pursuit. During the chase, the driver reportedly turned off the car's headlights, reached speeds of up to 110 mph, and dangerously passed vehicles on both shoulders of the freeway.
As the Infiniti continued west on I-90, it collided with two vehicles but remained in motion. Troopers deployed Stop Sticks to flatten the car’s tires, slowing it significantly, but the driver refused to surrender.
KCSO Deputy Jose Serrano executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver just west of Cle Elum to bring the pursuit to an end. The first attempt tore off the Infiniti’s rear bumper, but a second PIT maneuver spun and stopped the vehicle. Even then, the suspect rammed two WSP vehicles before being pinned and taken into custody.
The driver now faces a litany of charges, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Hit and Run, Assault, Malicious Mischief for ramming police vehicles, and Felony Eluding. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, despite the extreme risks posed by the chase.