PORT ANGELES — U.S. Highway 101 reopened on Saturday after a collision involving a tanker truck, the state Department of Transportation said.
The truck went off the roadway and into Indian Creek on Friday morning, State Patrol Trooper Katherine Weatherwax reported on the social media platform X.
Thomas Schaw, 58, of Port Angeles was traveling westbound on Highway 101 about 10:23 a.m. when he failed to negotiate a right-hand turn and left the roadway to the left, the State Patrol reported. The tanker went down a 200- to 300-foot embankment and landed on its top in the creek.
Schaw, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to Olympic Medical Center, the State Patrol said.
Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved, the agency added.
The State Patrol said the cause was improper lane usage and added Schaw was cited for second-degree negligent driving.
The tanker was leaking petroleum and the state Department of Ecology had been notified, Weatherwax said.
Travelers were being detoured around the closure using state Highway 112, WSDOT said.
Meanwhile, the city of Port Angeles asked customers to conserve water until further notice.
While outside of city limits, the Indian Creek Basin feeds into the Elwha River, the city’s main potable water source, city representatives stated in a press release.
“Residents and businesses should limit their water use to essential needs only,” the release stated. “This includes drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. Please restrict unnecessary activities, like lawn irrigation and non-commercial car washing, until further guidance is provided by the Washington State Department of Ecology.”
The city’s reservoirs currently have sufficient water supply for the next 18 to 24 hours without interruption to normal service, according to the press release.
“City staff are closely monitoring the City’s water supply and working closely with the Department of Ecology to determine appropriate next steps,” the release stated. “We will provide updates as additional information becomes available.”
