Youth allegedly intentionally ran stop sign in Grand Mound, 5 people seriously injured

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) cautioned motorists against mimicking dangerous driving behavior they might have seen on social media.

“There has been a drastic increase in reckless driving behavior promoted by social media,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release posted on social media, adding that these behaviors are dangerous, unlawful, and risky.

“Please remember, your actions while driving will affect not only you, your family, friends, and those around you other or other drivers,” TCSO noted.

TCSO’s warning came as they were giving an update on a July 14 car collision that happened on Grand Mound

Grand Mound incident

An 18-year-old Rochester man was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly running a stop sign in July and injuring five people.

The suspect was booked into the Thurston County Jail on five counts of vehicular assault and three counts of reckless driving, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Last July 14, authorities said the suspect ran a stop sign at 188th Avenue SE and Guava Street SW in the Grand Mound area, causing another vehicle to roll into an empty retention pond . Five people sustained serious injuries in the collision.

The suspect was driving a Chevrolet S-10 with one passenger in the front seat and two in the truck bed, both of whom got ejected from the vehicle during the collision. One of them was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center and the other was taken to a local hospital.

The other vehicle was a silver Hyundai Tucson with two occupants who were also seriously injured and treated at a local hospital.

After the collision, Sheriff’s deputies investigated claims that the suspect was reckless and intentionally ran the stop sign. Authorities later developed probable cause to arrest the S-10 driver.

“… five people were seriously injured and required hospitalization and a life-flight helicopter,” TCSO pointed out, “all of which could have been avoided.”