One seriously injured after stolen, wrong-way vehicle crash on Highway 16

Nathan Pilling, Kitsap Sun
·1 min read
A stolen, wrong-way vehicle was involved in a serious injury crash on Highway 16 Wednesday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.
A stolen, wrong-way vehicle was involved in a serious injury crash on Highway 16 Wednesday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

PURDY – One person suffered serious injuries after a stolen truck driven the wrong way in the westbound lanes of Highway 16 crashed into multiple vehicles near the Kitsap-Pierce county line Wednesday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The male driver of the stolen truck ran from the scene of a head-on crash into another vehicle shortly after 1 p.m., Trooper Katherine Weatherwax said, noting that other vehicles were also struck.

Trooper Robert Reyer posted on Twitter that two occupants of the SUV that was struck were taken to a local hospital, one with serious injuries and the other with minor injuries.

Weatherwax said law enforcement were searching for the driver of the stolen truck and said that a gun was found at the scene of the crash.

Troopers had earlier attempted to stop the vehicle, which was said to be stolen from a location in Tacoma, in Mason County, but the driver didn't stop, Weatherwax said.

Both lanes of westbound Highway 16 were closed in the area of the crash, and traffic was being detoured to Burnham Drive. A lengthy closure was expected.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: 1 seriously injured in stolen, wrong-way vehicle crash on Highway 16