Tacoma teen facing vehicular assault charge after wreck in Lacey injures 11, police say
A 19-year-old Tacoma man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of vehicular assault after Lacey police say he caused a four-vehicle crash on Ruddell Road.
Eleven people were injured, including five, ages 16 to 67, who were taken to an area hospital with minor injuries or broken bones, according to police.
The 19-year-old was booked into the Thurston County Jail about 4 p.m. The jail log identifies his occupation as “Army.”
About 3:20 p.m. Saturday, a Lacey police officer witnessed a Dodge Charger being driven recklessly on northbound College Street Southeast.
The officer attempted to catch up to the driver to make a traffic stop, but the driver turned left onto 14th Avenue Southeast and fled at a high speed onto Ruddell Road Southeast, “where he caused a four-car injury collision,” a news release reads.
The Charger burst into flames and had to be extinguished by firefighters from Lacey Fire District 3.
The incident closed Ruddell Road between 15th Avenue Southeast and Lacey Boulevard for more than three hours, according to police.
Police thanked the city’s public works department with helping with traffic control and cleaning up the scene.
The 19-year-old driver also was booked on suspicion of reckless driving.
This story was originally published June 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM.
