Lacey, United States - October 05, 2024

In a shocking repeat of history, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders narrowly escaped serious injury on October 5th night when his patrol car was T-boned by a suspected DUI driver at the intersection of Martin Way East and Hensley Street in Lacey. The incident, which occurred around midnight on Saturday, led to a rapid police response culminating in the arrest of the alleged perpetrator.

According to Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo, the crash occurred when the suspect's vehicle veered into Sheriff Sanders' lane, striking his patrol car. The impact was severe enough to send the sheriff's vehicle spinning, with the suspect then fleeing the scene, dragging a dislodged bumper along.

Officers from the Lacey Police Department located the damaged vehicle shortly after, but it was abandoned. A swift deployment of a K9 team led to the discovery of the woman suspected of driving, who was found attempting to conceal herself in nearby bushes. She was promptly apprehended on charges of DUI and hit-and-run.

Sheriff Sanders, who had a potential employee in the car with him at the time, expressed relief that both he and his passenger sustained only minor injuries. After receiving treatment at St. Peters Hospital, Sanders voiced his concerns about the state of road safety in Washington, emphasizing the frequency of such incidents.

This latest crash marks a harrowing deja vu for Sanders. Earlier in April 2023, he was involved in another collision with a suspected DUI driver, resulting in his hospitalization. That incident involved a 29-year-old man who admitted to methamphetamine use, highlighting the recurring issue of impaired driving in the region.