A traffic stop by a Washington State Patrol trooper on Friday morning turned into a chase after the driver attempted to flee the scene following a field sobriety test.

Trooper Kyle Schaar pulled over a Toyota Tundra headed west on state Route 12 several miles west of Elma at 8:46 a.m. Friday morning, said Trooper Katherine Weatherwax in an email.

The driver, a 36-year-old Burien man, got back in his vehicle and attempted to flee the scene following a field sobriety test, Weatherwax said. With reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence, Schaar pursued the car suspect west, Weatherwax said.

State Patrol policy is to only pursue under suspicion of a serious crime against a person or DUI, Weatherwax said — approval to pursue must come from a supervisor and is only granted under certain, safe circumstances.

The suspect hit a pair of spike strips set up by personnel from the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office near Montesano, Weatherwax said, and came to a stop east of Montesano. The suspect attempted to flee, and was taken down and detained by Trooper Joshua Magerstaedt, Weatherwax said.

“Luckily in this case no one was hurt,” Weatherwax said in an email. “Great teamwork by all.”

The subject was taken to Summit Pacific Medical Center for evaluation, Weatherwax said. Drug paraphernalia was located inside the vehicle after it was stopped. The pursuit was about eight miles, Weatherwax said.

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.