A Washington State Patrol trooper who was struck by a speeding motorist on Interstate 5 in Chehalis on Tuesday has died from his injuries, authorities said.
Justin R. Schaffer, 28, was pronounced dead at a Centralia hospital after the crash, troopers reported. Authorities said he had left his vehicle to deploy spike strips to in an attempt to stop the driver when he was struck.
Law enforcement personnel said they were pursuing William D. Thompson, 39, of Olympia, on Interstate 5 on Tuesday afternoon. Thompson was wanted for allegedly shoplifting and threatening a store clerk with a stun gun in Thurston County.
Schaffer reportedly positioned himself in Thompson’s path so the trooper could deploy spike strips and hopefully bring an end to the pursuit. However, Thompson struck Schaffer, who had left his squad vehicle to deploy the spike strips.
Thompson’s vehicle crashed into another squad car and continued down the interstate, the crash finally culminating when he drove into a utility pole, troopers said. Thompson then was arrested following a standoff.
Schaffer was a seven-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol, according to a social media post.
“Our hearts go out to this grieving family, and we recognize the unique sacrifice this family has offered as (Schaffer’s) father, Glenn, is currently the chief of police in the city of Chehalis,” patrol officials wrote in the post.
Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.
No Comment