SHINE — A Chimacum man was in satisfactory condition at a Seattle hospital Tuesday after a collision near the west entrance to the Hood Canal Bridge on Monday with a van containing 10 people, eight of them children.
Nicklaus L. Katsikapes, 22, driver of a 1990 Subaru Legacy involved in the wreck, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday.
His passenger, Kristin N. Louthan, 19, also of Chimacum, was treated and discharged from Jefferson Healthcare hospital, a spokeswoman said.
None of the passengers in the 1990 Dodge Ram van — eight of them children ranging in age from 5 to 16 — was seriously injured, according to the State Patrol.
Michael I. Hill, 40, of Port Ludlow, driver of the van, and his passengers were checked by emergency medical technicians on-scene and refused transport to a hospital, according to the State Patrol.
The crash, in which both the van and the car were destroyed, snarled state Highway 104 and limited access to the Hood Canal Bridge, backing up traffic for miles in both Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
Troopers said the Subaru driven by Katsikapes pulled out onto Highway 104 from Paradise Bay Road when a westbound vehicle was coming off the bridge and turning right onto the road.
After the vehicle turned, the westbound van driven by Hill and the Subaru collided in the center of Highway 104, troopers said.
Both drivers and all passengers involved were using seat restraints, troopers said.
A State Patrol preliminary report indicated that Katsikapes failed to yield right of way to the Hill van.
Neither drugs nor alcohol was thought to have contributed to the wreck.
A state Department of Transportation webcam stationed on the Hood Canal Bridge showed traffic backed up on the bridge onto the Kitsap County mainland from the time of the 4:30 p.m. collision until close to 7 p.m.
Firefighters and emergency medical technicians responded from Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue, Poulsbo Fire Department, Quilcene Fire & Rescue, Discovery Bay and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
Because of the large number of people involved in the wreck, assistance was sought from all rescue units available, said Port Ludlow Fire Chief Brad Martin.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
