Police: driver ‘recklessly’ flees traffic stop, crashes near Puyallup fairgrounds
An attempted traffic stop by police ended with the suspect vehicle crashing and catching on fire in Puyallup Friday night.
Puyallup police officers attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle driving northbound in the 1500 block of South Meridian at 9 p.m. Once officers activated the emergency equipment of the patrol car, the suspect vehicle allegedly drove off, according to a Puyallup Police Department media release.
The suspect’s vehicle drove “recklessly” on northbound South Meridian, weaving in and out of traffic. An officer deactivated the emergency equipment and did not initiate a pursuit. The vehicle continued driving and lost control. It drove through southbound lanes and struck a signal pole in the 1100 block of South Meridian in front of the Blue Gate at the Western Washington State Fairgrounds, the release said.
The vehicle caught on fire with two people still in the car. Police officers at the scene tried to remove the people out of the car. A crew from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue arrived and extinguished the fire. The two people were extricated and transported to local hospitals. They were both coherent during the transport, the release said.
The two people were identified as males in their late teens to early twenties. The driver is from Puyallup. An initial investigation discovered possible impairment of the Puyallup driver, the release said.
As of Saturday morning, they both remain in serious condition at the hospital, according to the Puyallup Police Department.
