Stolen newspaper van crashes in Seattle

A Seattle Times delivery van that was stolen in Mukilteo led Snohomish County sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase early Monday that ended with a crash in Seattle.

The van was stolen from the driver about 1:30 a.m. Monday as the driver was loading newspaper boxes, according to Times spokeswoman Jill Mackie. The newspaper van driver called police.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, which began the pursuit, said the van driver and the suspect struggled at some point during the theft and the victim suffered minor injuries but declined aid.

The thief fled down Interstate 405, Highway 520 and Interstate 5 to Seattle. It left I-5 at the Boeing Access Road when it crossed over the overpass and began to enter northbound I-5, said Seattle Police. Attempts to stop the van were unsuccessful.

The van then went onto Highway 99, northbound, exiting at Western Avenue. Police put spike strips across the road, but the suspect drove around the strips, striking a traffic sign, police said.

The driver then drove through downtown, pursued by the Washington State Patrol, which lost sight of the van.

It was spotted again near the Swift-Albro exit on I-5 and was involved in a head-on collision with another car. The 35-year-old suspect fled from the crash, but was caught by Seattle police.

There were no injuries and the suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail.