OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — What began as a routine traffic stop Sunday kept Olympic National Park rangers and Clallam County sheriff’s deputies searching late into the evening for the driver of a van that tried to escape law enforcement.
A gold Chrysler van was leaving the Elwha area of Olympic National Park at 4:09 p.m. Sunday when a park ranger attempted to stop it because it had no front license plate, Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron said.
“As they left the park, the ranger turned his lights on and the driver took off toward Herrick Road — in the meantime the passenger bailed from the vehicle,” Cameron said.
The location is about five miles west of Port Angeles.
Toward the woods
The passenger began running toward wooded areas on Olympic Hot Springs Road but was ultimately captured about 6 p.m. Sunday, Cameron said.
Cameron said he did not know the man’s name or age.
He also said it was undecided if the man would be questioned and released or ultimately be arrested.
Meanwhile, the driver turned south onto Herrick Road, where he drove the van onto the property of David and Ann Schultz
The ranger followed close behind.
“My husband and I were watching the football game and we heard the sirens and the whoosh of the van,” Schultz said.
The van traveled on a pathway through their property which leads to a neighbor’s property, she said.
The area is about 2 miles from the intersection of Olympic Hot Springs Road and U.S. Highway 101.
Driver flees
Olympic National Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes said once the driver “drove into the property on Herrick Road, he got out and fled on foot,” Maynes said.
As of late Sunday evening, the driver still had not been captured, Cameron said.
He did not have a description of the person available.
Some marijuana was spotted in the van, but a search warrant hadn’t been obtained, so Cameron said how much was yet to be determined.
Also, the types of charges were unclear until jurisdictional issues between the national park and county could be sorted out, he said.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our county Prosecutor’s Office have to decide what they want to do and what they can charge and what they can’t,” because the chase began on federal park property and ended in county jurisdiction, he said.
Possible charges could include possession of marijuana and eluding a law enforcement vehicle.
“As for the passenger, we still don’t exactly know his part yet,” Cameron said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
