A suspected DUI driver died Saturday night, April 25 after fleeing Kent Police and crashing into a utility pole, according to authorities.
The incident began around 9:21 p.m. on April 25, 2026, when a Kent Police officer observed a driver believed to be impaired in the downtown Kent area. When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the driver accelerated and refused to pull over, initiating a pursuit, according to Kent Police.
The vehicle traveled north on Washington Avenue before the driver lost control at the intersection of West Valley Highway and South 228th Street, where the car struck a utility pole.
Multiple officers responded and found the driver unconscious, unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. Officers broke the windows to access the driver and determined he was not breathing. They began life-saving measures, including CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator, and worked to pry open the doors to remove him from the car.
King County Medic units later took over medical care, but sadly, the driver did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the driver as a 56-year-old Seattle man. No other vehicles or individuals were involved in the crash.
The Washington State Patrol is conducting the collision investigation, which is standard protocol for incidents involving police pursuits.
