Trooper's 911 call released from crash after chasing motorcyclists
TUKWILA, Wash. -- Officials have released the tape of the 911 call from a state trooper involved in a rollover accident near Tukwila last week after chasing two motorcyclists.
A State Patrol spokesman said Trooper Brian Salyer was pursuing a group of at least nine members of a south King County motorcycle group who Salyer says were speeding and getting too close to cars, and when he tried to close in on the fastest biker, two other bikers cut him off.
Salyer's vehicle rolled several times, finally landing in a ditch alongside the ramp. He suffered minor injuries.
On the call to 911 dispatchers, Salyer was calm, and even laughed a bit. (Listen to the call.)
Dispatcher: "Trooper Salyer... are you OK?"
Salyer: "Yeah, I'm a little rung here."
He then gave a brief description of what happened.
Salyer: "That bike, they had one come from the side and I couldn't avoid him so it was either take him or lose the car."
Dispatcher: "OK, so are you hurt?"
Salyer: "Yeah"
After confirming his location to the dispatcher, he noticed the crowd growing around his wrecked patrol car.
Salyer: "I've got about a million people standing here too."
Dispatcher: "Yeah, we saw that on the (DOT) camera."
Salyer: "Oh, you can see me, huh?"
Dispatcher: "Yes, we can see you, we were very worried so we were trying to find you."
Salyer: "Yes, that was quite some ride."
Dispatcher: "OK, where are you hurt at?"
Salyer: "Um, honestly I couldn't tell you." (laughs).
Dispatcher: "OK, but is there any blood anywhere?"
Salyer: "Um, I can... yeah I can see a little but I can't..."
Dispatcher: "Blood from where?"
Salyer: "Yeah, I don't know."
After the crash, Salyer said the two motorcyclists returned to the scene to taunt the trooper.
Investigators are still looking for the motorcyclists. Police have identified a person of interest, but have not released his name.
Salyer is a 22-year veteran of the force. He is now recovering at home.
A State Patrol spokesman said Trooper Brian Salyer was pursuing a group of at least nine members of a south King County motorcycle group who Salyer says were speeding and getting too close to cars, and when he tried to close in on the fastest biker, two other bikers cut him off.
Salyer's vehicle rolled several times, finally landing in a ditch alongside the ramp. He suffered minor injuries.
On the call to 911 dispatchers, Salyer was calm, and even laughed a bit. (Listen to the call.)
Dispatcher: "Trooper Salyer... are you OK?"
Salyer: "Yeah, I'm a little rung here."
He then gave a brief description of what happened.
Salyer: "That bike, they had one come from the side and I couldn't avoid him so it was either take him or lose the car."
Dispatcher: "OK, so are you hurt?"
Salyer: "Yeah"
After confirming his location to the dispatcher, he noticed the crowd growing around his wrecked patrol car.
Salyer: "I've got about a million people standing here too."
Dispatcher: "Yeah, we saw that on the (DOT) camera."
Salyer: "Oh, you can see me, huh?"
Dispatcher: "Yes, we can see you, we were very worried so we were trying to find you."
Salyer: "Yes, that was quite some ride."
Dispatcher: "OK, where are you hurt at?"
Salyer: "Um, honestly I couldn't tell you." (laughs).
Dispatcher: "OK, but is there any blood anywhere?"
Salyer: "Um, I can... yeah I can see a little but I can't..."
Dispatcher: "Blood from where?"
Salyer: "Yeah, I don't know."
After the crash, Salyer said the two motorcyclists returned to the scene to taunt the trooper.
Investigators are still looking for the motorcyclists. Police have identified a person of interest, but have not released his name.
Salyer is a 22-year veteran of the force. He is now recovering at home.
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