UPDATE — Two hurt, at least one critically, in collision west of Port Angeles

Published 11:01 am Wednesday, January 7, 2015

PORT ANGELES — Two people were injured in a head-on wreck between a pickup and a passenger car on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles today, the State Patrol said.

Both were taken to Olympic Medical Center, with the driver of a pickup set to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The names of the injured were not available as of 12:15 p.m.

The collision occurred at about 10:20 a.m. about a quarter-mile east of Laird Road.

All lanes were blocked until the state Department of Transportation opened the road to alternating traffic at about 11:30 a.m.

A raised Toyota truck was traveling eastbound when it crossed the center line and collided with a Nissan Altima traveling west, said Trooper Russ Winger, State Patrol spokesman.

The impact of the crash broke the cab of the pickup truck from the bed.

An airbag had deployed in the Nissan and the windshield was shattered.

No passengers were believed to be in either vehicle, said Sam Phillips, chief of Clallam County Fire District No. 2.

The State Patrol was investigating today.

“We activated the trauma system in the county, which allows the hospital to get surgeons and respiratory therapists down to the OR (operating room) right away in case they’re needed,” Phillips said.

“We did put Airlift Northwest on standby in case they have to be flown from the hospital to Harborview.”

The driver of the pickup suffered critical injuries and was set to be airlifted to Harborview, Winger said.

Both vehicles came to a rest in the westbound shoulder. Both were pointed east.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles police, Elwha police and the U.S. Border Patrol assisted at the scene.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.