A drunk driver crashed into a sheriff's car during a patrol in Washington.

Trooper John Dattilo of the Washington State Patrol stated that the crash occurred when the suspect's vehicle veered into the lane of Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders. The impact took place shortly after midnight on Saturday, October 5, at the intersection of Martin Way East and Hensley Street in Lacey.

Authorities stated that the hit was severe enough to send the sheriff's vehicle spinning while the suspect fled the scene, dragging a dislodged bumper behind.

Officers from the Lacey Police Department located the damaged vehicle shortly afterwards but it was abandoned.

The K9 dog team later found the woman suspected of driving. She was allegedly attempting to hide in nearby bushes.

Officers said the suspect was promptly apprehended on charges of driving under the influence (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 road safety in Washington, emphasising the frequency of such incidents.

In April 2023, Sanders was also involved in another collision with a suspected DUI driver, which resulted in his hospitalisation. That incident involved a 29-year-old man who admitted to methamphetamine use, underscoring the ongoing issue of impaired driving in the region.