Thurston County Sheriff injured in accident in Lacey

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders was injured in a crash in Lacey early Sunday morning.

This came 18 months after the sheriff suffered a traumatic brain injury in another accident in Yelm.

After Sunday's collision, Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo reported that Sheriff Sanders got up and left. Paramedics took him to a local hospital for evaluation.

State police initially reported that an oncoming car crashed into Sanders' patrol car. However, it is unclear whether the car that hit Sheriff Sanders' vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction or the same direction.

The sheriff was heading southwest on Martin Way East, near Hensley Street.

A state trooper tweeted that the other driver came toward him, crossed the center line and hit him.

But Sanders later posted his own statement on Facebook suggesting that the other driver crossed into the oncoming lane and then tried to turn in front of him, T-buttoning his patrol car.

Sanders also reported that the other driver attempted to drive off, dragging his bumper across the road.

A passenger was in the vehicle with the sheriff. Sanders reported that the passenger was “okay.”

Sanders' statement indicated that he had been released from St. Peters Hospital and was suffering from “normal” injuries from a car accident.

Trooper Datillo tweeted on X that the driver who caused the accident was attempting to take off. Lacey police officers located the fleeing, unoccupied vehicle further down the road.

A K9 dog named “Arco” and his handler found the suspect hiding in nearby bushes. Officers arrested her.

She is now likely to face charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and hit-and-run.

Sanders also reported on Facebook that:

“Thurston County Sheriff's Deputies, Lacey Police Officers and K9 Arco and his handler from the Olympia Police Department responded to my radio call for help along with Lacey Fire District Three and Thurston County Medic One…”

“…My passenger is fine and I was just released from St. Peters Hospital for normal car accident injuries. My car, on the other hand, probably won’t survive.”

“…Lucky to be alive, glad my passenger is unharmed, and extremely grateful for the response of our regional law enforcement partners who ensured a quick arrest, but I’ll say it again…”

Washington’s streets are unsafe.”

On April 2nd^nd Last year, Sheriff Sanders was involved in another serious accident. A pickup truck pulling a trailer pulled in front of Sanders' patrol car on Lake Lawrence Road Southeast in Yelm.

Dashcam video released more than three months later showed the sheriff's vehicle traveling at about 60 miles per hour when he had to swerve to avoid hitting the truck. But he was unable to prevent a collision with the trailer.

This accident sent Sanders to the hospital.

A medical evacuation helicopter took him from the crash site to Harborview Medical Center. He later tweeted from his hospital bed.

Eight days later, Sheriff Sanders returned to work in a limited capacity.

The driver in front of him in the Yelm accident was uninjured. But investigators suspected at the time that he was impaired. According to KING5 Television, the driver reportedly told officers he had taken methamphetamine the night before the crash.

Tom Brock is the weekend editor, reporter and host for KIRO Newsradio.