A high-speed chase involving a suspected intoxicated driver concluded Tuesday afternoon when officers executed a tactical stop on a stolen truck, bringing the vehicle to a halt precisely on the boundary between Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The driver, a local man, was taken into custody following the incident. Clallam County Sheriff Brian King confirmed that the suspect is currently in jail and is facing preliminary charges for driving under the influence and possession of a stolen vehicle, among other potential offenses.
The sequence of events started earlier in the day when deputies with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a driver exhibiting signs of impairment. The caller supplied the license plate number, which allowed investigators to determine that the red Dodge work truck had been reported stolen to the Port Angeles Police Department.
Upon locating the vehicle traveling eastbound on State Route 101, deputies initiated a traffic stop by activating emergency lights and sirens. The driver did not comply and continued moving eastward through the town of Sequim.
Around 3:05 p.m., residents near the 7 Cedars location reported hearing multiple sirens. Onlookers indicated that the pursuit included at least nine emergency vehicles representing various agencies, notably the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the Sequim Police Department.
Sheriff King noted that while the speeds during the chase were not considered excessive, the combination of the vehicle’s stolen status and the driver’s apparent impairment led supervisors to approve a Pursuit Intervention Technique, commonly known as a P.I.T. maneuver.
In this procedure, a pursuing officer positions their patrol car alongside the target, placing the front bumper near the rear wheel of the fleeing vehicle. By matching speed and applying slight lateral pressure, the pursuing officer induces a spin that forces the target vehicle to stop.
Officers successfully performed this maneuver near milepost 275 on SR 101, stopping the truck exactly on the county line. The driver was apprehended at the scene.
The incident caused temporary delays for commuters on Tuesday afternoon. Eastbound lanes on SR 101 were closed at the scene for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, creating a traffic backup that extended for more than a mile.
The investigation is ongoing. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office plans to distribute a formal statement once further details are confirmed.