A driver in a stolen car evaded Seattle police Wednesday by crashing through barriers and jumping the University Bridge as it was lowering, creating a dangerous five-foot drop between the bridge sections.
The dramatic escape occurred around 12:20 p.m. when the suspect drove from the south side to the north side of the bridge while it was in the process of opening for boat traffic, according to Seattle Police Department Public Information Officer Brian Pritchard.
Police had initially spotted the stolen vehicle in the Montlake neighborhood and recognized it as a car reported stolen on August 4 in Seattle. An officer attempted to follow the driver but initially lost track of the suspect.
Officers later relocated the vehicle and conducted what Pritchard described as a “high-risk stop on the south end of the University Bridge.” However, the driver managed to escape by making the perilous jump across the opening bridge span.
Following the bridge jump, the suspect continued into the University District where he abandoned the stolen car. Police discovered the vehicle with significant damage including a broken windshield and undercarriage damage consistent with the hard landing.
The University Bridge, which connects the Fremont and University District neighborhoods across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, regularly opens to allow marine traffic to pass. The timing of the pursuit coincided with a scheduled bridge opening, creating the gap the driver exploited for his escape.
Despite the vehicle recovery, police have not apprehended the suspect. Officers describe him as an adult male with dark gray hair and a matching beard.
The incident highlights the dangerous lengths some suspects will go to evade law enforcement, creating risks not only for themselves but potentially for other motorists and pedestrians in the area.
Bridge jumps during police pursuits are extremely rare and typically result in serious injury or death due to the vehicle impact and potential fall into water below. The suspect’s successful navigation of the gap appears to be an exceptional outcome.
Seattle Police continue investigating the incident and searching for the suspect, who faces charges related to vehicle theft and likely additional counts for reckless driving and eluding police.
The University Bridge will continue normal operations, with no structural damage reported from the incident.
