Sheriff’s Deputy Rescues Man From Fiery Crash After High-Speed Chase

A Kitsap County sheriff’s deputy rescued a screaming driver from a burning SUV shortly after a high-speed pursuit ended in a violent crash.

The incident began around 11:30 p.m. Monday in Kingston, Washington, when the deputy reportedly saw the suspect traveling about 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit on State Highway 104, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

Rather than stop, the driver accelerated and reached speeds of up to 111 miles per hour, authorities said.

The deputy temporarily lost sight of the SUV, but soon followed tire marks and smoke to a nearby property. There, he found that the driver had left the roadway, crashed into a tractor in a yard and set the vehicle ablaze, photos and body camera footage showed.

Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the deputy attempting to break the driver’s-side window with his flashlight. He stopped when the trapped man yelled, “I can’t get out that way!”

With the flames intensifying around the engine, the deputy rushed to the passenger side and repeatedly struck the door handle with the edge of his flashlight, according to the body camera recording.

A Port Gamble police officer soon arrived with a fire extinguisher and managed to put out the flames. The footage then shows the deputy pulling the injured driver from the wrecked SUV.

North Kitsap Fire and Rescue crews transported the man by air to a hospital for treatment, authorities said.

The driver is facing charges of attempting to elude a police officer and reckless driving.

Authorities have not released the man’s identity.