Paul Jackson used his Kia Forte to stop a runaway SUV on I‑5 near Fife, Washington, after its driver suffered a medical emergency. He guided and pinned the SUV against the concrete barrier, then shifted it into park and rescued the child strapped in the back seat. Jackson’s car was badly damaged, but his decisive action, captured on a motorist’s cellphone and confirmed by the Washington State Patrol, likely prevented a multi‑vehicle crash and saved both the mother and child.
Man Rams His Kia Into Runaway SUV On I‑5 to Save Mother and Child
A Kia vehicle.
Paul Jackson wasn't looking to be a hero as he drove down Interstate 5 near Fife, Washington — he was on an ordinary errand, even headed to pick up his wife’s birthday cake, when he saw a white SUV suddenly veer across three lanes and begin scraping the concrete median.
Quick Thinking Stops a Dangerous Runaway
According to KCPQ‑TV and the Washington State Patrol, the SUV’s driver was suffering a medical emergency, slumped over the wheel and unconscious while the vehicle sped along the highway. In the rear seat, a young child sat strapped into a car seat, wide awake and terrified. The SUV had already struck another car and was becoming a potential multi‑vehicle pileup with no one in control.
An accident causes a traffic jam on a freeway.Photo credit:Tahamie Farooqui/Unsplash
Jackson, who lives in Roy, Washington, realized his only tool was his own car. "My rescue car, my Batmobile, is a Kia Forte," he told KCPQ‑TV. He pulled alongside the runaway SUV, positioned his Kia to make controlled contact, and used it to guide and pin the SUV against the concrete barrier until both vehicles slowed and stopped.
"It wasn't something I really even thought about. I just did it," Jackson said.
After the vehicles came to rest, Jackson shifted the SUV into park, helped the frightened child out of the car seat and to safety, and stayed with the unconscious driver until first responders arrived. The entire incident was recorded on a passing motorist’s cellphone and later confirmed by the Washington State Patrol.
Two badly damaged cars after a collision. Photo credit:Photospirit/Canva
The maneuver came at a cost: Jackson’s Kia sustained significant damage in the deliberate impact — the kind of crash most drivers spend their lives trying to avoid. Still, because he acted without hesitation, he likely prevented a much larger crash and saved two lives.
In a lighter postscript, Jackson — who had been late for his wife’s cake pickup — texted her photos from the scene to prove his excuse.
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