By Pepper Fisher
(This is a developing story)
BLYN – A State Patrol Officer and the driver of a stolen vehicle were medi-vacced from the scene of a crash along Highway 101 in Jefferson County Tuesday.
Trooper Chelsea Hodgson says State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Alfred Alderson was conducting a traffic stop of a semi-truck when the driver of the stolen vehicle plowed into the officer’s vehicle while they were inside.
An eyewitness told us the suspect was fleeing after spraying gasoline all over a stranger’s van at the gas pumps at the Jamestown Tribe’s Longhouse in Blyn and then setting it on fire.
Here’s Brian King from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
“Yes, at about 9:19, the first 911 calls came in to Peninsula Communications of an individual that was at the Longhouse, spraying customers with fuel. As deputies were responding, we learned that one vehicle was on fire and that the suspect, who we have identified as David Scott Johnson, last known to be a transient in the Sequim area, had left the Longhouse, stealing a 2000 Ford F-350 pickup. Not too long after that we learned that he had been involved in a collision near Discovery Bay.”
The eyewitness was working in the store when she saw the incident on security camera and disabled the pump as quickly as she could. She says Johnson had grabbed the hose from the van’s owner as they were filling their tank and began to spray gas high and low.
When the gas pump shut off, Johnson lit it with a lighter.
The store manager ran to the scene and attempted to intervene.
“You know, what we do know is that employee, and I think it’s best to describe his efforts as quite heroic, he came out while the fire was going, grabbed fire extinguishers and began to extinguish the fire. Specifically, to a van that was parked there in the parking lot. So quick thinking on his efforts to avoid what clearly could have turned out to be a catastrophic event.”
The van’s owner and store manager were able to escape the fire unhurt.
King says Johnson was not being pursued by law enforcement when he sped away, later crashing into the Patrol Officer’s vehicle at Discovery Bay, about 11 miles east of the fire.
Johnson has since been taken into custody for suspicion of DUI. Other charges are expected.
The Officer’s condition was described by Trooper Hodgson as serious.
Gasoline service has been suspended at the Longhouse until further notice.
Above photo, showing fire damage to van and gas pump, submitted by Cade Barker.
Crash photo by Dan Goettling.