Speeding Driver Rams Police Car

A speeding motorist forced other cars off the road, rammed a police car and took a police bullet in his driver’s side door before crashing into two cars and a light pole, police said Tuesday.

The driver was not hit by the bullet but suffered a cut forehead in the crash. He was treated at Central Washington Hospital, then booked into the Chelan County Regional Jail.

Jason L. Thompson, 22, of Entiat, was booked for investigation of felony eluding, third-degree assault, drunken driving and on Pierce County warrants charging him with failure to appear on drunken driving and traffic charges.

A 17-year-old passenger was not injured. She was arrested and booked into county juvenile detention on suspicion of being a minor in possession of alcohol.

The episode began late Monday on the Blewett Pass Highway, southwest of Wenatchee, after a driver apparently became upset at being passed while accompanying a slow-moving caravan, Chelan County Sheriff’s Inspector Mike Harum said.

At least eight motorists were forced to the sides of the road, Harum said. The motorist hit speeds of more than 100 mph as two sheriff’s deputies and two State Patrol troopers gave chase. In Wenatchee, the chase was joined by seven more city and State Patrol officers.