One killed when driver fleeing from deputy’s pursuit hits another car in Tumwater
A 33-year-old Olympia man was pronounced dead at the scene of a car crash in Tumwater late Thursday night, and a Winlock man was taken into police custody for causing the fatal collision.
Coroner Gary Warnock identified the victim as Dane A. Nielsen of Olympia.
According to news releases from the Washington State Patrol and the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened just after 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, when a Thurston County deputy witnessed a vehicle driving recklessly on Yelm Highway.
The driver was clocked going 62 mph in a 35 mph zone. The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, but the person fled west on Yelm Highway. The deputy pursued the driver south on Henderson Boulevard, and they began to lose sight of the vehicle. The deputy fully lost sight once the driver turned west onto Tumwater Boulevard.
When the deputy approached Capitol Boulevard, the deputy discovered a crash scene involving the suspect and an uninvolved motorist, later identified as Nielsen. The suspect had run a red light and hit the other car.
Deputies rendered aid to Nielsen, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect was captured immediately and taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with minor injuries. He was then booked into the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide and eluding a police vehicle.
The fatal crash is one of a number that have occurred related to police pursuits in the county in the past few months.
WSP responded to the scene and is handling the criminal investigation.
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