Pursuit in Pierce County ends with woman ejected from vehicle and in critical condition

A pursuit by Pierce County sheriff’s deputies that began with a traffic stop led to a hit-and-run crash on Tuesday.

A deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a red Tahoe at 176th Street East and Pacific Avenue South in Spanaway at 6:34 p.m. The Tahoe turned east on 176th and then immediately accelerated through a traffic light at B Street East. The vehicle collided with another car and then continued driving east, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Darren Moss told The News Tribune.

Deputies went to the crash scene and confirmed the other driver suffered injuries from the hit-and-run, Moss said.

The driver eventually made a loop and was back onto westbound 176th Street East. He went north on Spanaway Loop Road South where he allegedly sideswiped another vehicle, Moss said. The pursuing deputy moved in to perform a PIT maneuver. The Tahoe spun out and hit a curb, causing it to flip into the brush.

Deputies detained the driver and rear passenger. Deputies were advised a third passenger from the front passenger seat had been ejected from the vehicle, Moss said. The vehicle landed directly on top of the female passenger.

Deputies and firefighters tilted the vehicle and pulled the woman out. They started performing CPR and were able to get a pulse. She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, Moss said.

The driver was arrested for felony hit-and-run, eluding, possession of a controlled substance for fentanyl and vehicular assault, Moss said.