By Sharyn L. Decker, Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s patrol car was totaled when it was struck by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 5 in Tumwater early Sunday morning.
Both Deputy Gordon J. Phillips, 45, and the other driver, a 29-year-old Tenino-area woman, reportedly sustained minor only injuries. Her 2001 Volkswagen Jetta was destroyed as well, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The state patrol reported it suspects alcohol or drugs were involved and the collision is under investigation.
Katie I. Dunn, 29, was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the freeway at about 3 a.m. when her car collided with the deputy’s 2005 Crown Victoria, according to the state patrol. It happened near Tumwater Boulevard.
Deputy Phillips was traveling with his lights and sirens activated as he and another deputy were responding to assist the state patrol to find a wrong-way driver reported on Highway 101, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy saw headlights coming towards him and saw a vehicle ahead of him swerve to the right, according to sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy. The deputy was able to avoid a head-on crash by angling his patrol car to the right, Mealy said. The Volkswagen impacted his car behind the driver’s compartment, Mealy said.
Mealy didn’t know the speeds at which the two cars were traveling, but said the deputy had begun to slow when he first saw the headlights.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter