The Tumwater Police Department is investigating a four-vehicle collision that injured multiple people, including a 10-year-old, and closed the intersection of North and Hoadly streets Saturday night.
The at-fault driver, identified only as a 33-year-old woman, was believed to be driving under the influence, according to the Tumwater Police Department. She will be booked into the Thurston County Jail for vehicular assault after she is released from the hospital, police stated.
Tumwater officers were dispatched to the intersection of North and Hoadly streets at 9:39 p.m. on April 18 for a report of a multi-vehicle collision.
The reporting party advised there were at least three vehicles involved, but there was a fourth vehicle that was believed to have fled the scene, Tumwater police said in a news release.
Investigating officers later learned that the suspect was driving a Ford Explorer westbound at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of a Hyundai Santa Fe traveling in front of her, causing both vehicles to spin out of control.
The Ford left the roadway and struck a tree and a light pole. Two other vehicles traveling westbound were also struck, and one of those vehicles continued westbound without stopping.
Police have since contacted the one driver that didn’t stop, according to the Tumwater Police Department.
When officers arrived on scene, they observed three vehicles with extensive damage in the roadway, a large amount of debris, and a light pole and a tree that were both severed and lying on the ground.
The driver of one of the vehicles was still trapped inside their vehicle and was being tended to by good samaritans, according to Tumwater police.
Officers closed the roadway to traffic to investigate the scene, and medical personnel attended to injuries.
The suspect driver in the Ford Explorer was transported to the hospital for multiple injuries, and the occupants of the Santa Fe were transported, as well.
Once at the hospital, it was learned a 10 year-old child who was in the Santa Fe had sustained severe injuries and was transported to Mary Bridge Hospital for further care.
The suspect driver has been transported to Harborview Medical Center for additional medical care.
“This is still an ongoing investigation at this time,” the Tumwater Police Department said in a news release published Sunday, April 19.
