University Place, WA business smashed after failed towing attempt

Failed towing attempt in University Place leaves business smashed

A bizarre attempt to tow a car in University Place resulted in a business being severely damaged and the vehicle's front end being crushed. After multiple failed attempts, which were captured on surveillance video, the driver and a passenger fled the scene, and police are now investigating the incident as a hit-and-run.

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. - Pierce County, Washington authorities are looking for a man and woman that smashed up a University Place business during a failed towing attempt.

The backstory:

Surveillance video shows a man in a white Honda Pilot at an AutoZone parking lot coming to tow a broken-down vehicle. He tries pulling the car with a tow strap, but it snaps as he reaches the other end of the lot.

As the driver tries to hook it up again, the car starts barreling down the parking lot, with the man racing alongside it and trying to stop the car before it plows right into the lobby of Pho and Teriyaki.

"Just when you think it couldn't get worse, it becomes a lot worse," said Deputy Carly Cappetto with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

The driver then backs up to try and tow it again, but just like before, the tow strap breaks and sends the car crashing into Pho and Teriyaki again.

On the final attempt, the man uses a longer tow strap and starts dragging the car through the parking lot. However, the suspects appear to give up after the vehicle gets stuck along a retention wall and curb, abandoning it.

"It finally gets stuck against a retention wall and a curb, and that tow strap breaks a third time. And essentially at that point, I think the driver and his female passenger realize that this is a total loss at this point. They flee the scene," said Deputy Cappetto.

(Pierce County Sheriff's Office)

Pierce County deputies are investigating the incident as a hit-and-run collision, and are asking for the public's help to identify the driver and his female passenger, along with the white Honda Pilot.

"The lesson that we really want the public to learn is that there are proper ways to tow a vehicle and safe ways to tow a vehicle. And if you don't know how to do that, you could reach out to any tow company or the sheriff's office. We can provide you resources on how to do that," Deputy Cappetto said.

If you recognize the suspects or their vehicle, deputies ask you submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County. You can remain anonymous.

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