Highway Chaos: Soldiers Tackle Knife-Wielding Driver

Two U.S. soldiers stopped on Interstate 5 near DuPont and wrestled away a knife after a crash, helping protect two injured children, according to local reports.

Story Snapshot

Troopers say a 35-year-old woman crashed on I-5 near DuPont around 9 a.m. and then threatened or attacked two children with a knife.
Two U.S. soldiers and a bystander intervened, disarmed the woman, and held her until police arrived, a witness said.
One child suffered broken bones and a stab wound; both children were hospitalized in stable condition, reports say.
Washington State Patrol expects to seek charges and is investigating possible impairment by the driver.

What Happened On The Highway

Washington State Patrol said a southbound sport utility vehicle hit a left barrier on Interstate 5 near DuPont, veered across lanes, and struck a semi-truck in the middle lane around 9 a.m. Monday. Reporters said three people got out of the vehicle: a 35-year-old woman from Steilacoom and two girls. Witnesses told police the woman then threatened or attacked the children with a knife after the crash. Troopers took the woman into custody at the scene.

KOMO and other outlets reported that three people, including two Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers, stepped in to stop the attack and take the knife. A named witness told reporters he saw two soldiers wrestle the woman to the ground and hold her until law enforcement arrived. The same accounts credit the soldiers and a bystander with stopping the assault quickly, which likely limited further harm while first responders were en route.

The Injuries And The Investigation

KOMO reported the younger child, about nine years old, suffered broken bones and a stab wound, and that both children were in stable condition at the hospital. The woman also went to a hospital for evaluation. Washington State Patrol said they believe the driver was impaired and that they plan to seek charges, including driving under the influence and assault. Local outlets vary slightly on the exact sequence and wording, but the core facts are consistent across reports.

FOX 13, MyNorthwest, and KOMO agree on key points: the location near DuPont, the time window around mid-morning, the alleged knife attack after the crash, and the rapid action by two soldiers who disarmed and restrained the suspect. The Modesto Bee’s national write-up also quotes the eyewitness describing the soldiers’ actions at the scene, adding an independent view beyond the initial station reports. These accounts align on the essential timeline and response.

Why This Strikes A Nerve

Parents who drive this stretch know one wrong move can change lives in seconds. Here, a crash turned into an alleged assault on two children, and everyday Americans in uniform stepped in. That mix hits home across politics. People see danger on the road, fear for kids’ safety, and feel grateful when citizens act fast. The soldiers’ response shows how training and willingness to help can matter in the first critical minutes before police and medics arrive.

This case also shows how local news spreads: simple, clear facts lead, while technical details follow. Reporters cite Washington State Patrol on the crash path, list expected charges, and share the witness account. Some small differences appear on ages and exact phrasing, which is common in fast updates. The heart of the story stands firm in multiple outlets: a crash, an alleged knife attack, quick action by two soldiers, and children now in stable condition.