SEQUIM — Three people were transported for non-life-threatening injuries after a collision involving three vehicles, including a semi-truck and two SUVs, near Sequim Bay State Park.
U.S. Highway 101 was closed in both directions about 9:05 a.m. Monday at Schoolhouse Point Lane and traffic remained backed up into the afternoon.
Two people were transported to Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend with non-life-threatening injuries, Clallam County Fire District 3 reported, and the semi-truck driver was transported with non-life-threatening injuries to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
State Trooper Katherine Weatherwax said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the “causing driver was arrested for suspicion of DUI.”
Additional details from the State Patrol were not immediately available.
Initial calls to 911 reported one vehicle was on fire and another was involved in a head-on collision with the semi-truck, said Battalion Chief Chris Turner with Clallam County Fire District 3.
Firefighters did not find a fire at the scene, he said.
First responders discovered a diesel fuel leak that amounted to about 100 gallons.
Firefighters created an earthen dam and applied absorbent material to stop the spread of fuel, and staff with the state Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took over mitigation of the spill, Turner said.
Mutual aid was called from Clallam County Fire District 2 to help with calls during the incident.
Life Flight was placed on standby, Turner said, and an additional Olympic Ambulance was requested to respond to the scene.
Turner said the fire district responds to a number of wrecks on the highway each year, and as traffic grows, the district has developed a plan to inform drivers of wrecks ahead.
Crews will deploy “Emergency Scene Ahead” signs soon after arrival to help drivers expect that an extended traffic interruption is ahead, he said.
