SPOKANE, Wash. — Two people are injured after a police pursuit involving a stolen car near Mead ended before a three-car crash Thursday.
According to Washington State Patrol (WSP), a WSP trooper was in pursuit of a stolen car and disengaged before the crash.
Around 10:32 Thursday morning, a WSP trooper noticed a car driving recklessly in the Fertile Valley area and decided to pursue the car, WSP said.
WSP says the car was driving over 120 mph south into Spokane County. The trooper searched the cars plates and saw the car was reported stolen.
The trooper stopped the pursuit a mile and a half from where the crash happened, after seeing the stolen car entering a more populated area.
The car was headed southbound and crossed into the northbound lane where it hit two cars, one head on.
A man and woman were in the allegedly stolen car. They are both seriously injured, the man driver is being looked at for potential impairment.
The people in the cars that were hit sustained minor injuries, WSP said.
WSP said the trooper decided to stop the pursuit because the risk outweighed the need to pursue.
Spike strips could’ve been added but there were no officers in the area that could come fast enough, WSP said.
According to WSP, the new law that went into effect Thursday wouldn’t have mattered. If the incident happened Wednesday, WSP still would’ve pursued because the car was a danger to the public.
WSP is on scene on E. Lane Park Road. The road has full reopened after the crash caused it to be blocked in both directions, there is a detour in place via Day-Mt. Spokane Rd, Bruce Rd and SR206.
WSP is asking drivers to avoid the area as they investigate.
This is a developing story, refresh this page for updates.
Amendments to Washington's police pursuit law took effect on Thursday, which will allow law enforcement officers to engage in car pursuits more frequently.
In 2021, Washington state law increased the threshold for evidence required for a police pursuit while limiting the types of crimes that can result in chases. Legislators in support of the bill said they were seeking to balance the risks of letting a suspect speed away from police versus the risks of negative outcomes resulting from a high-speed chase.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE AMENDED LAW: Police can now engage in car pursuits more often in Washington state
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