Driver Uses Kia Forte to Stop Runaway SUV on Interstate 5 Near Fife, Washington

While traveling south on Interstate 5, Paul Jackson of Roy, Washington, observed a white SUV veer across three lanes near Fife. The vehicle’s driver had slumped over the wheel, eyes rolled back, and was unconscious, according to KCPQ-TV. A young passenger, strapped in a car seat, remained awake and frightened. The SUV had already struck another car and was scraping along the concrete median, creating a potential multi-vehicle pileup.

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KCPQ-TV reported that Jackson, driving a Kia Forte, pulled alongside the runaway SUV, positioned his car to make contact, and used it to guide the SUV into the concrete barrier, bringing both vehicles to a controlled stop. He then shifted the SUV into park, assisted the child in exiting the vehicle, and remained with the unconscious driver until emergency responders arrived. Jackson told KCPQ-TV that he acted without hesitation, describing his car as his “Batmobile” and emphasizing that he simply did what needed to be done.

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The intervention prevented a likely multi-car collision on a busy freeway. The incident was captured on a by-stander’s cell-phone video and later confirmed by the Washington State Patrol. Jackson later texted his wife photos of the crash scene to explain his delay in picking up her birthday cake.

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The Upworthy article presents the episode as a human-interest narrative rather than a formal news report, highlighting Jackson’s quick decision and the dramatic nature of the rescue. No additional details about the driver’s medical condition or subsequent legal outcomes were provided in the source material.

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