A woman allegedly stabbed a young girl after crashing her SUV into a semi-truck and rolling over on a Washington freeway, authorities said. Two soldiers reportedly intervened, tackling the woman and taking away the knife.
The 35-year-old Steilacoom woman allegedly threatened two girls with a knife after the Monday morning collision on southbound Interstate 5 near DuPont, FOX 13 Seattle reported, citing the Washington State Patrol.
A 9-year-old girl sustained several broken bones and a stab wound. A 15-year-old girl was also taken to a hospital, though her injuries were not considered serious, according to the report.
Nathan Wilkinson told KING 5 that he was driving to work when he encountered the crash and saw two men wearing military uniforms from Joint Base Lewis-McChord step in.
“There’s people standing around, then all of a sudden there was a flash, and then the two soldiers jumped on a person. … I heard a scream at that time,” Wilkinson told the outlet. “I saw one of the soldiers had a knife in his hand that he had dislodged from the person they tackled.”
Wilkinson called 911 while bystanders restrained the woman, KING 5 reported. FOX 13 said the two soldiers stopped to assist, and photographs from the scene appeared to show one of them holding someone on the ground.
According to FOX 13, Washington State Patrol investigators said the SUV first hit the left-side barrier, moved toward the right shoulder and then crossed back over the freeway. It struck a semi-truck traveling in the middle lane.
The SUV then hit the barrier again and rolled over. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured, the outlet reported.
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Officers told KING 5 that the woman had allegedly been driving erratically before the crash.
The woman was initially transported to a hospital for evaluation. FOX 13 reported Monday that authorities were investigating her on suspicion of DUI, vehicular assault and first-degree assault.
In an update Tuesday morning, KING 5 reported that the woman had been booked into the Pierce County Jail. She was expected to face two counts of assault, vehicular assault and two counts of reckless endangerment. It was not immediately known whether prosecutors had formally filed the charges.
The circumstances leading to the crash remained under investigation. Reports did not specify the woman’s relationship to the two girls.
The names of the service members who intervened were not immediately released.
Wilkinson said he hoped the soldiers would receive recognition for their actions.
“They didn’t run away, they didn’t pass, drive on by. They stopped and helped,” he told KING 5.
Fox News Digital contacted the Washington State Patrol and Joint Base Lewis-McChord seeking comment.
