SEATTLE — A man behind the wheel of a silver Honda caused chaos in downtown Seattle after allegedly offering firefighters a whippit — then ramming their truck when they refused.
It happened Sunday evening near Second Avenue and Blanchard Street. Seattle Fire crews say the man pulled up next to their ladder truck, holding a surgical glove filled with gas, and offered a whippit — a street term for inhaling nitrous oxide to get high.
When they turned him down, the driver hit their truck, pulled in front of it, and backed into the fire engine multiple times before speeding off.
Roughly 30 minutes later, the same car was reported in a hit-and-run up in North Seattle. Witnesses said the suspect was trying to hit pedestrians and other cars while inhaling gas from balloons.
Police tracked him and tried to pull him over, but he fled again — hitting speeds of 85 mph on city streets. Officers ultimately called off the chase due to public safety concerns.
The suspect remains at large. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or Seattle’s violent crime tip line at 206-233-5000.