BLYN — Two people were taken to hospitals following a collision on U.S. Highway 101 at the 7 Cedars Casino.
Katherine M. Melcer, 44, of Sequim was turning westbound onto Highway 101 from the casino in a 2002 Toyota Highlander about 2:27 p.m. Friday, but she failed to yield and was struck by a 2017 Western flatbed truck driven by Collin M. Jacobs, 23, of Shelton, according to the State Patrol.
The truck collided with the Highlander in the eastbound lane. The Highlander rotated and came to rest in the westbound lane while the truck stopped in the eastbound lane, the State Patrol said.
Teresa D. Riley, 46, of Sequim, a passenger in the Highlander, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was not listed as a patient on Monday, hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg said.
Riley was not wearing a seat belt, the State Patrol said.
Melcer was transported to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, said the State Patrol, which suspected Melcer of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Other possible charges included vehicular assault, the State Patrol said.
Melcer and Jacobs both were wearing seat belts, the State Patrol said. Jacobs was not injured.
The Highlander, which was totally destroyed, was taken to the Bremerton State Patrol bullpen.
There was non-reportable damage to the truck and reportable damage to its trailer, the State Patrol said.
Highway 101 was blocked for about three hours. Traffic was temporarily diverted through the casino parking lot to Sophus Road and back to Highway 101 at the Longhouse fuel station to bypass the scene, Clallam County Fire District 3 stated in a press release.
