A car driving the wrong way on to I-5 sent Washington State Patrol Troopers in a chase than ended in a three-car crash on Highway 520 in Bellevue.
Just before 1 a.m. on July 31 a State Patrol sergeant was clearing a vehicle impound on the shoulder of the off ramp from southbound Interstate 5 to 145th in Seattle when he noted a black Lincoln Navigator approach him traveling the wrong way onto the freeway.
The Navigator turned around just prior to reaching the sergeant and attempted to flee the area on Seattle surface streets. The WSP sergeant caught up to the recklessly driven vehicle and while attempting to stop it was informed that the Navigator was listed as a stolen vehicle. The Navigator driver refused to stop and attempted to elude the pursuing State Patrol vehicle eventually leading the pursuit onto eastbound state route 520.
As a Trooper was positioning to assist with the pursuit, she pulled to the right shoulder of eastbound state route 520 at 76th Avenue and exited her vehicle in attempts to deploy the spike strips. Traveling eastbound at the same location a 1999 Subaru Legacy and a 2004 Saab 9-34 slowed slightly as they saw the trooper pulled off on the shoulder.
Without any breaking or steering to avoid the vehicles the fleeing Lincoln Navigator slammed into the rear of the Saab forcing it into the Legacy. The excessive speed and force of the SUV striking the Saab bounced the car off the cement wall before the Navigator then crashed into the Legacy.
The driver of the stolen Navigator, 24 year old Joseph Serna from Seattle was taken into custody with no injuries and is currently in custody for possessing/operating a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, attempting to elude a police vehicle, vehicular assault, driving under the influence, and several felony and misdemeanor warrants for his arrest including residential burglary, assault, and stolen vehicles.
Injuries to other parties involved include:
1999 Subaru Legacy, male driver and passenger with no injuries.
2004 Saab 9-34, male driver with minor injuries
Front seat male. passenger with extensive facial lacerations.
Rear seat female passenger with serious hip injuries.
All passengers of the Saab were transported to Overlake Hospital for treatment.
