Available 
SUMNER, Pierce County, Wash., Oct. 15, 2026 — One person was hurt Wednesday afternoon, October 14, in a two-vehicle crash on northbound State Route 167 just south of State Route 410 near Sumner, Wash., according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers said the crash was caused by a driver under the influence.
The first vehicle was traveling in the left lane of the three-lane highway when it left the roadway to the right and struck a barrier, troopers said. It then re-entered the roadway and came to rest blocking the two right lanes. A second vehicle, traveling in the middle lane, left the roadway to the left, struck a barrier on that side, and came to rest in the right lane, according to the report.
The driver of the second vehicle was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with injuries, the agency said. Both vehicles were described as total losses in the collision. The highway was blocked for about one hour while crews worked the scene.
Washington State Patrol identified the driver of the first vehicle as Cody Fagnant, 24, and said he was charged with DUI. The agency has determined the cause of the crash to be impaired driving.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
DUI Crashes and the Toll on Highway Collisions
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 365 large-truck occupants were killed in multi-vehicle crashes involving large trucks in 2023. That figure is a reminder that multi-vehicle crashes on highways, whether they involve trucks or passenger cars, carry outsized risk for everyone on the road when one driver loses control of their vehicle.
Impaired driving crashes often follow a pattern similar to what troopers described here: a driver drifts out of their lane, overcorrects or strikes a barrier, then swings back into traffic where other vehicles have little time to react. Multi-lane highways amplify that risk because a single vehicle that leaves its lane can end up blocking two or three lanes of moving traffic.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide continue to treat DUI as a leading contributor to serious and fatal multi-vehicle crashes. Investigators typically rely on field sobriety tests, blood alcohol or toxicology results, and witness accounts to establish impairment as a cause, a process that can take days or weeks to finalize even after charges are filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most traffic accidents happen?
Crashes are most common at intersections and on high-speed roadways like highways and interstates, where merging, lane changes, and higher speeds increase the chance of a collision.
What injuries are most common in car accidents?
Common injuries include whiplash and other neck or back strain, concussions, broken bones, and cuts from broken glass or debris. Severity often depends on speed and whether vehicles struck a fixed object like a barrier.
What are the most common causes of car accidents?
Distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and failure to maintain a lane are among the most frequently cited causes in crash reports nationwide.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Sumner, WA
If you're involved in a crash on a highway in or around Sumner, move to a safe location if possible and call 911 right away. Even if you feel fine, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider, since injuries like concussions or soft-tissue damage don't always show symptoms immediately.
Exchange information with other drivers if it's safe to do so, and take photos of the vehicles, the roadway, and any barrier or property damage. Request a copy of the official crash report once it's available, since it will include details from the responding agency that can matter later. If you were a passenger or witness, write down what you remember as soon as you can, while the details are still fresh.
