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WSP trooper stops wrong way driver on I-5 with help of 9-1-1 callers

WSP Media Release Cover

March 14, 2022

DUPONT – An impaired, wrong way driver was taken into custody after successfully being stopped by a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper on Interstate 5 near DuPont early Sunday morning with the help of numerous 9-1-1 callers.

The driver, a 28-year-old Tacoma woman, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 with a 3-year-old passenger in the back seat. Witnesses first reported the wrong way, gold Honda Civic, on Interstate 5 near Marvin Way in Thurston County.

More than 11 witnesses called 9-1-1 to report the wrong way as it continued northbound in the southbound lanes. These crucial and detailed updates, such was multiple descriptions of the vehicle being in the left lane, provided responding troopers the necessary information to successfully locate the wrong way Honda, slow down southbound traffic and ultimately stop the Honda just north of Exit 119 at Pendleton Avenue.

The driver stopped on the inside shoulder just inches from the WSP trooper’s push bars as they moved into position to block the Honda’s path. The driver was later taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence and reckless endangerment.

The 3-year-old passenger was unharmed during the incident. The WSP contacts Child Protective Services (CPS) in the case of any incident involving an impaired driver with any passenger under the age of 16 in the vehicle at the time of the stop.

The WSP wishes to extend gratitude to each of the callers who reported the vehicle’s location to 9-1-1, affording the responding WSP troopers the information necessary to plan and execute the successful stop of the vehicle.

Those calling 9-1-1 should be prepared to provide basic yet vital pieces of information, including:
–  Accurate location
– The incident being reported
– Detailed descriptions (such as vehicle type, license plate, lane of travel, if the incident is blocking,
apparent injuries, etc.)

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