SILVERDALE, Wash. — A Washington State Patrol trooper was injured Friday night while stopping a wrong-way driver who was suspected of driving under the influence on State Route 3 near Bremerton, authorities said.
Dispatchers reportedly received 25 reports after 4:45 p.m. about a wrong-way sedan that was headed southbound in the northbound lanes on the highway.
Officials said a trooper responded and prepared to intercept the driver near Newberry Hill Road. When the driver came around a corner, both vehicles collided head-on.
The trooper suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, where she was treated and released.
“Wrong-way drivers can be one of the scariest, most dangerous people on our highways,” said WSP District 8 Capt. James Mjor. “Our trooper had to make a grave decision to put herself between the public and a dangerous driver, risking her own safety. No doubt our trooper’s actions tonight perhaps saved innocent motorists and a suspect in crisis.”
The driver, a 38-year-old Quilcene woman, was not injured. She was arrested for investigation of DUI by Kitsap County sheriff’s deputies.
Another driver suffered minor injuries earlier as a result of the wrong-way driver on state Route 3 near state Route 308. That driver was attempting to get out of the way.
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