SEQUIM — Icy conditions contributed to a series of wrecks that eventually involved 11 vehicles and damaged a fire rescue vehicle in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 at Barr Road on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
No one was hurt, the State Patrol said.
State Patrol troopers and firefighters scrambled to help eight motorists who, each separately, lost control and spun out on an icy patch on the eastbound lanes near Barr Road at about 6:30 a.m., said Trooper Russ Winger, spokesman for the State Patrol.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 101 were closed for about two hours, Winger said.
Despite the individual spinouts, including two rollovers, there were no collisions and no serious injuries reported, Winger said.
However, there were several near-misses as passing cars lost control and nearly hit troopers who were outside of their vehicles assisting others, he said.
At about 7:21 a.m., a Clallam County Fire District No. 3 fire rescue vehicle parked at the western border of the scene was hit by a ninth car, which was then struck by a 10th vehicle.
“If the rescue [truck] had not been in place, there is a strong possibility emergency personnel would have been struck,” said District No. 3 Assistant Chief Dan Orr.
When firefighters first arrived to assist with the first eight wrecks, they found two vehicles overturned and six others scattered across the road, Orr said.
All of the occupants were able to get out of their vehicles on their own, Orr said, adding that no one was taken to a hospital.
At least three of the vehicles ended up in the ditch alongside the road, Winger said.
Fire rescue vehicle
Firefighters had parked a red-and-white Freightliner rescue vehicle across the road to protect rescue workers and the people involved in the wreck from additional traffic.
Jordan L. Miller, 17, of Sequim lost control of her 2000 Jeep Wrangler and struck the fire rescue vehicle. Her car came to rest headed west in an eastbound lane.
Collin K. West, 19, of Port Angeles, who was driving a Dodge Ram 250 pickup truck, also lost control and hit Miller’s Jeep.
Neither was hurt, the State Patrol said.
Miller was cited for speed too fast for conditions, according to the State Patrol.
Conditions similar to those that caused most of the wrecks are expected again this morning, Orr said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
