At about 12:45 a.m. March 15, an Issaquah police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 1400 block of Northwest Sammamish Road.

The driver would not stop, and left with his headlights off, driving eastbound at high speed. The officer did not pursue the vehicle, instead notifying Bellevue that the driver was headed in that direction.

While checking the surrounding area, the officer found the vehicle had struck three parked cars in the 4700 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast near a condominium project, and that the driver’s vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The driver was able to pull himself out of the vehicle through the driver’s side window, and then collapsed.

Two Issaquah police officers pulled him away from the burning vehicle. Eastside Fire and Rescue units responded and extinguished the fire.

The driver, a 24-year-old Issaquah man, was taken to Overlake Hospital and treated. He was listed in satisfactory condition. The Washington State Patrol and Bellevue Police Department provided assistance.

This incident is still under investigation. Commander Stan Conrad with the Issaquah Police said they are investigating the incident as a possible DUI, but it will be a week or so until they have the results of toxicology tests.