BRINNON — A 72-year-old Port Townsend woman driving northbound on U.S. Highway 101 died Sunday afternoon after an Oregon driver traveling southbound crossed the centerline, striking her vehicle, the State Patrol said.
Linda K. Scott was pronounced dead at the collision site, the State Patrol said Monday afternoon.
The wreck closed the northbound lane of Highway 101 more than 5 miles north of Brinnon for almost six hours beginning at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday, the agency said Monday in a press memo.
Donald W. Jackson, 77, of Newport, Ore., was driving his 2004 Buick Rainier SUV too fast for conditions, the State Patrol said.
It was raining at the time and the speed limit on the curve where the collision occurred is 55 mph, State Patrol spokeswoman Chelsea Hodgson said.
Scott was driving a 2009 Honda Fit subcompact.
Jackson was issued a traffic infraction for second-degree negligent driving and is subject to a maximum $250 fine.
Hodgson said an ongoing State Patrol investigation into the collision, including a determination of Jackson’s speed, could take months.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas will review the State Patrol report before deciding on further charges.
“It’s possible we could file more serious charges, up to and including vehicular homicide, for disregard for the safety of others,” he said Monday.
Jackson and a passenger in his vehicle, Carleen G. Jackson, 76, also of Newport, were treated at the collision site for minor injuries, the State Patrol said.
Drugs or alcohol was not involved, and the two drivers and passenger were wearing seat belts, the agency said.
Hodgson said the fatality was the second death in a week in a vehicle crash in Jefferson County caused by a motorist driving too fast.
Krystal J. Reuther, 25, of Quilcene died at about 4:55 p.m. Oct. 1.
The former Port Townsend High School cheerleader lost control of her vehicle while approaching a curve on state Highway 20 near the intersection of Eaglemount Road about 11 miles south of Port Townsend, the State Patrol said.
Reuther wrecked her 2004 Honda Civic while approaching a curve eastbound on Highway 20 in wet road conditions, the State Patrol said.
She oversteered, crossed the centerline, and went into the path of the driver of a westbound 1992 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Kevin Bennett, 35, of Port Angeles.
Reuther was pronounced dead at the collision site.
Bennett was treated at Jefferson Healthcare hospital and discharged.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
