Two injured in head-on wreck west of Port Angeles
Published 12:01 am Thursday, January 8, 2015
PORT ANGELES — Two Port Angeles drivers were injured Wednesday in a head-on wreck between a pickup truck and a passenger car on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles, the State Patrol said.
Rachelle E. Grasso, 26 — the driver of the pickup — was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Chandra M. Johnson, 23 — who was driving the passenger car — was taken to Olympic Medical Center, where she was listed in satisfactory condition late Wednesday.
Grasso’s condition was not available by 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The collision occurred at about 10:20 a.m. about a quarter-mile east of Laird Road, blocking both lanes near Milepost 243.
The state Department of Transportation opened the road to alternating traffic at about 11:30 a.m. and cleared the scene at 3:12 p.m.
The raised Toyota truck was traveling eastbound when it crossed the centerline 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 from the bed.
An airbag deployed in the Nissan, and the windshield was shattered.
No other occupants were in either vehicle.
Clallam County Fire District No. 2 responded with two medical units, two command vehicles and 14 personnel.
District Fire Chief Sam Phillips said Airlift Northwest was put on standby in case the injured had to be taken to Harborview.
Winger said the driver of the pickup suffered critical injuries and needed to be airlifted at about noon.
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 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 rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
