KINGSTON, WA — A Kitsap County sheriff’s deputy rescued a trapped driver from a burning SUV moments after a high-speed chase ended in a crash in Kingston, authorities said. The man had refused to stop for the deputy, accelerated away and then drove into a yard, where the vehicle hit a tractor and caught fire.

Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows the deputy trying to reach the driver through the window before moving to the passenger side as flames grew around the engine compartment. A Port Gamble police officer then arrived with a fire extinguisher, helping create the opening that allowed the deputy to pull the man out.

Deputy first clocked the SUV speeding on State Highway 104

The encounter began around 11:30 p.m. Monday on State Highway 104 in Kingston, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy saw the driver traveling about 20 miles per hour over the posted limit before attempting a stop.

Instead of pulling over, the driver sped off. The sheriff’s office said the SUV reached 111 miles per hour during the pursuit, turning a traffic stop into a dangerous chase on a late-night roadway.

The driver’s identity has not been released by authorities. Officials said he now faces charges including attempting to elude a police officer and reckless driving.

Tire marks and smoke led the deputy to the wrecked yard

After losing sight of the SUV, the deputy followed tire marks on the road and noticed smoke nearby. That trail led him to the crash scene, where the vehicle had left the roadway and ended up in a yard.

Photos and body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office show the SUV after it slammed into a tractor and ignited. The collision left the vehicle badly damaged and immediately dangerous for anyone still inside.

The wreck scene also illustrated how quickly the situation changed from a traffic pursuit to a life-threatening rescue. By the time the deputy reached the SUV, the fire was already spreading and the driver was trapped inside the mangled vehicle.

Video shows the trapped man begging for another way out

The body camera video captures the deputy first breaking the driver’s side window with a flashlight in an effort to reach the man. The trapped driver shouted that he could not escape that way, forcing the deputy to shift his approach.

The deputy then ran to the passenger side and repeatedly struck the door handle with the edge of his flashlight. Flames from the engine grew larger and hotter as he worked to open the car and get the man out before the fire spread further.

Authorities said the footage shows the rescue unfolding in real time as the deputy continued trying to reach the driver despite the worsening conditions. The man was heard screaming while the fire burned around the SUV.

Port Gamble officer and fire crews helped finish the rescue

A Port Gamble police officer arrived with a fire extinguisher and sprayed the blaze, helping bring the fire under control. Once the flames were knocked down, the deputy was able to pull the man from the vehicle.

North Kitsap Fire and Rescue crews later responded and airlifted the man to a hospital for treatment. Officials did not immediately describe the extent of his injuries, but they said he was taken for medical care after the crash and fire.

The rescue ended with the driver alive despite the intensity of the wreck. The sheriff’s office credited the quick response from the deputy, the Port Gamble officer and fire crews who reached the scene.

Charges follow the pursuit as authorities withhold the driver’s name

The man faces two charges, according to officials: attempting to elude a police officer and reckless driving. The sheriff’s office has not identified him publicly.

The case adds another example of how a routine traffic violation can escalate into a serious emergency in seconds. In this case, the deputy’s decision to pursue the smoke trail after losing sight of the SUV appears to have led directly to the rescue.

Authorities have not said whether more charges are possible or provided additional details about the cause of the crash beyond the chase, the impact with the tractor and the fire that followed.