BREMERTON — A State Patrol trooper was injured after stopping an impaired, wrong-way driver with her patrol car on state Highway 3 north of Bremerton.
State dispatchers received more than 25 reports of a white sedan traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 3 on Friday. The first report was received at about 4:46 p.m., stating the vehicle, a 2012 Chrysler 200, was passing milepost 51 near Poulsbo.
Troopers responded to the area while dispatchers continued to receive witness updates. The final update said the vehicle was southbound in the northbound lane at Anderson Road near Silverdale.
Trooper Jessica Schob responded south of the area and began slowing traffic, preparing to intercept the wrong-way vehicle near Newberry Hill Road. Moments later, Schob observed the sedan approaching around a corner. The vehicles collided head-on in the left northbound lane.
Schob sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, where she was treated and released. She has been with the State Patrol for five years and transferred to the Bremerton area in May 2017.
One additional minor injury collision occurred earlier as a result of the wrong-way vehicle on Highway 3 near state Highway 308 as drivers attempted to get out of the way.
“Wrong-way drivers can be one of the scariest, most dangerous people on our highways,” said State Patrol District 8 Captain James Mjor. “Our trooper had to make a grave decision to put herself between the public and a dangerous driver, risking her own safety. No doubt our trooper’s actions tonight perhaps saved innocent motorists and a suspect in crisis.”
The driver, Sarah T. Frantz, 39, of Quilcene was uninjured. She was booked into the Kitsap County Jail at 5 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, hit and run and violation of a vehicle ignition interlock device.
