PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a two-vehicle collision at state Highway 112 and Oxenford Road five miles west of Laird’s Corner.
Kathleen O. Craven, 64, of Port Angeles was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the wreck at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, the State Patrol said.
A hospital spokesperson said she was listed in serious condition on Wednesday afternoon.
Richard T. Fisher, 63, of Port Angeles, was taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles where he was treated and discharged.
He was booked into the Clallam County jail for investigation of driving while intoxicated and posted $10,000 bond.
The State Patrol also cited Craven with failure to yield the right of way.
Greg Waters, fire chief of the Joyce Fire District, said it was “an incredible rescue.”
“It was a two-car T-bone. The lady was hit on the driver’s side at highway speeds. We had to use a hydraulic saw to cut her out.
“It was a fairly tricky extraction because of the damage. We had to remove the entire left side of her car to get her out. It was a significant intrusion, 12 inches,” he said.
The roadway was blocked in both directions for about 1½ hours.
The State Patrol said that Craven’s 2019 Subaru Outback was southbound on Oxenford Road approaching state Highway 112 while the 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by Fisher was westbound on state Highway 112 approaching Oxenford Road.
An uninvolved disabled vehicle was on the westbound shoulder of Highway 112, obstructing Craven’s vision, the State Patrol said.
She tried turning left onto eastbound Highway 112 in front of Fisher’s pickup and the pickup struck Craven’s Outback, which came to rest facing the wrong way on the eastbound shoulder of 112.
Fisher’s pickup came to rest blocking the westbound lane.
Both vehicles were declared completely destroyed.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
________
Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at brian.gawley@sound publishing.com
