Fleeing hit-and-run driver crashes into roundabout and flips truck, police say
A 41-year-old man was arrested on Friday afternoon after allegedly being involved in a theft earlier in the day, fleeing police during a traffic stop, and hitting and flipping a truck, causing injuries to another driver.
Lacey Detective Sgt. Derek Thompson said police were notified at 1:08 p.m. on April 3 that an officer attempted to stop a theft suspect and the suspect fled the scene. Thompson said the man allegedly stole something, amounting to misdemeanor theft, from a store off Marvin Road Northeast. He didn’t immediately know which one.
Thompson said a pursuit was not initiated. Then at 2:49 p.m., officers patrolling around College Street Southeast and Mullen Road Southeast were flagged down by a citizen who allegedly saw a truck driving recklessly in the area.
Thompson said an officer drove up behind the truck, and the truck abruptly changed lanes and sped away from the officer. He said the truck struck the roundabout at College Street and 45th Avenue Southeast and continued driving eastbound. The officer activated sirens, but the truck didn’t stop, Thompson said.
Thompson said police then found a Dodge Ram pickup truck on its side that the theft suspect hit. He said the driver was contacted, and she was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital out of precaution. Thompson said no serious injuries have been reported.
He said the suspect was found shortly after the hit-and-run near a grocery store on Yelm Highway Southeast, and his truck was found nearby on Mountain Greens Lane Southeast.
The man was medically cleared and booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license, eluding pursuing police, and hit-and-run.
.jpg)