PORT TOWNSEND — A car sped through the parking lot at the Haines Place Park and Ride, jumped a curb and struck an empty parked Jefferson Transit bus on Tuesday afternoon, Port Townsend police said.
The driver, an 85-year-old man from Ontario, Canada, was taken away by an ambulance, then East Jefferson Fire-Rescue and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for evaluation for a head injury, said fire district Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski.
No one else was injured.
The Port Townsend Police Department has identified the man through his passport but has not released that information pending notification of relatives.
Port Townsend police Sgt. Joe Kaare said it was unknown whether the man was traveling alone or with other people.
At about 4:11 p.m., a silver Toyota Yaris — which police identified as a rental car with Alberta, Canada ,license plates — entered the parking lot heading east from Landes Street at what witnesses described as a high rate of speed, police said.
It jumped the curb and struck the empty bus, which was parked in the turnaround and ready to load passengers.
Visitors’ Center Manager Karen Anderson saw the incident and alerted employee David Harrah and driver Eldon Burrow, who rushed out to provide assistance.
Seeing the man was still conscious, they opened the car door and helped him to the sidewalk, where he stood while leaning on a post.
After a few seconds he spun around and landed on his back.
Harrah said that he hadn’t been sure if the man should stand, but acceded to his wishes.
Kaare said that the man had been driving carelessly for several minutes, and was being followed by a woman who was about to call 9-1-1 to report the erratic driving.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
