OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Thurston County sheriff was hit by a suspected impaired driver early Sunday morning in Olympia, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Derek Sanders was driving southwest on Martin Way East in Olympia when a car heading in the opposite direction crossed over the center line.
Sanders' patrol car was struck, but first responders say he was walking after the crash.
"I saw a car approaching," said Sanders. "It jumped from their left lane across the double turn lane and into my, into my lane, head on. And I'm kind of like, 'What are we doing here?' Because we're at the intersection, and then it tried to, like, dive through the flashing yellow yield sign to get into the bar parking lot."
He continued, "I was able to actually see who she was, and yeah, can't talk straight. Can't stand straight. Not even sure she knows what state she's in."
Sanders was hospitalized, but he said he had only minor injuries.
"My neck is real tight, and I kind of got to, like, do the robot thing, to turn and greet people," said Sanders. "I think the big thing that I'm looking for, I guess, is I'm kind of looking towards our state government."
State data shows a persistent pattern of alcohol-related crashes on Washington roadways.
"Our roads, they just don't feel safe right now," he said.
So far this year in Washington, 1,342 people have gotten hurt or killed in crashes involving alcohol, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. In the prior couple of years, that number exceeded 2,500 reported injuries and deaths per year.
"I am one small victim amid a pile of victims, that I think are kind of wondering like, 'What's the next step?' We have hardly any police officers. You know, we've got a judicial system that seems very confused right now. Our criminal justice system seems kind of out of balance. And so what's the plan moving forward?” said Sanders.
This was the second crash the elected leader has been in recently. In the spring of last year, Sander's patrol car collided with a pickup truck in Yelm.
"I'm trying to figure out if I'm lucky or unlucky. It is the second time, but, I've walked away both times okay. And a lot of people can’t say that," said Sanders.
Due to the governor's signing of House Bill 1493, starting in 2026, a state law will go into effect in Washington that makes it easier for prosecutors to charge someone with a felony offense for a DUI. They’re generally classified as gross misdemeanors in Washington.
The suspect driver fled the scene, but was found a short time later, the sheriff's office said. The female driver was booked into jail for driving under the influence and hit-and-run.
According to the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office, the official charges will not be filed until toxicology results are released. Evidence will be sent to the state patrol toxicology lab and prosecuting attorneys will consider charges once they receive results. That process takes up to 18 months.
Sanders was sworn in as sheriff in 2022 and has been with a sheriff's deputy since 2016.
On his Facebook page, Sanders said the oncoming car T-boned his patrol vehicle; he also had a lateral deputy sheriff recruit riding with him who was not injured.
"Happy to be alive, happy that my passenger is unharmed, and extremely grateful for the response from our regional law enforcement partners to ensure a swift capture," he said on his Facebook page, "but I’m going to say it again… Washington’s roads are unsafe."
Washington State Patrol is handling the investigation.