The event occurred on the southbound side of Interstate 5 near South 188th Street. A trooper had pulled over onto the shoulder to wait for a vehicle previously detected by another officer at a dangerously high speed. Moments later, the vehicle passed at 156 mph, equivalent to 250 km/h, and was quickly swallowed by the fog. The lack of headlights made it nearly invisible in the already poor visibility conditions.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the speed was more than double the legal limit on any highway in the state. Despite not being the fastest case of speeding ever recorded, the conditions under which this incident occurred, at night, in fog, without lights, made it especially hazardous. Authorities were unable to determine even the brand or model of the vehicle, let alone a license plate number.
Vanishing Point in the Pacific Northwest Fog
In the foggy and dim environment typical of the Pacific Northwest, the vehicle’s lack of headlights drastically worsened visibility. The Washington State Patrol emphasized that this was not just a case of excessive speed, but also one of extremely limited perception.
Even by daylight, such a speed would be dangerous. At night and in fog, it becomes almost impossible to safely judge the road or surroundings, especially with headlights turned off, which may have been a deliberate move to avoid detection or simply pure negligence.
The video released by the police shows the vehicle appearing suddenly and vanishing just as fast. No accident occurred, a fact described as incredible. The driver managed to avoid other cars and roadside hazards despite the speed and conditions. This has prompted renewed conversations around the dangers of such behavior and the limits of current enforcement technologies.
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) January 7, 2026
New Year’s Eve Timing Worsens the Risk
New Year’s Eve is widely known as one of the most dangerous nights on American roads. More drivers are under the influence, and law enforcement patrols are more intense. Even minimal infractions were being pursued that night, highlighting the level of vigilance on the roads. This context adds a serious aggravating factor to the incident, as New Year’s Eve is likely the worst possible time to attempt a speed record on Interstate 5.
The timing, combined with the conditions and driving behavior, amplified the threat to public safety. Roads were likely filled with unsuspecting motorists, and any error could have led to severe consequences. That no crash occurred is considered by both sources as not just fortunate, but nearly unthinkable given the circumstances.
Too Fast to Catch, Too Stealthy to Trace
Despite planning an interception further down the road, Washington State Patrol officers failed to stop the vehicle. The trooper posted downstream couldn’t accelerate in time to match the car’s speed. The vehicle was simply too fast and too stealthy for any conventional pursuit to succeed.
The incident has reopened the debate around technological solutions to reckless driving. There are ongoing discussions about installing speed limiters on new vehicles, with the National Transportation Safety Board reportedly pushing for tighter controls to prevent similar events in the future.
Washington ranks as the eighth U.S. state where drivers are most likely to be ticketed for speeding. But in this case, the driver’s speed was so extreme that it bypassed every enforcement measure in place.
