SEATTLE — One family member who survived when a falling tree struck an SUV at Lake Crescent on Jan. 1 has been discharged from Harborview Medical Center.
Three others remained at the Seattle hospital in varying conditions Saturday.
Five-year-old Dezman Harper died on New Year’s Day when a large evergreen tree struck the SUV he was riding in on U.S. Highway 101 on the southwest shore of Lake Crescent, authorities said.
He was among five family members who were headed home to Federal Way after visiting a longtime friend in Clallam Bay for the holidays.
Tharon Sluharty, 2, who was in the back seat with Harper when the tree crashed into the vehicle, was discharged from Harborview on Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The driver, Robert Young, 51, was out of the intensive care unit and was listed in satisfactory condition Saturday.
Julie Young, 50, who was in the front seat, remained in critical condition.
Isabella “Bella” Young, 5, was in serious condition Saturday, a nursing supervisor said.
Bella had surgery for a broken back on the day of the accident and is paralyzed from the waist down, family relative Alisha Cartwright told the Peninsula Daily News last week.
A GoFundMe site to help with funeral and medical expenses is at www.gofundme.com/young-family-medical-and-funeral.
The wreck was reported at 2:16 p.m. Jan. 1 at Milepost 223 on the west side of Lake Crescent near La Poel, according to a Peninsula Communications service log.
Clallam County Fire Districts 2 and 4, the State Patrol, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the National Park Service responded.
It is under investigation by the National Park Service and the State Patrol.
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Senior staff writer Paul Gottlieb contributed to this report.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@penin suladailynews.com.
