PORT ANGELES — Four Port Angeles residents were injured in a crash west of Lake Crescent, one of several wrecks in the area last week as summer travel traffic is on the rise.
All four people, ages 7 to 49, were taken to Forks Community Hospital.
Luciano Juan Gaspar, 49, was driving his vehicle west on U.S. Highway 101 at Cooper Ranch Road about five miles west of Lake Crescent on Sunday afternoon when he swerved across Cooper Ranch Road and hit an embankment, according to the State Patrol.
Gaspar was taken to Forks Community Hospital and subsequently transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. An update on his condition was not available Monday afternoon.
Also injured were passengers Dominga Martin, 44, Juana Miguel, 19, and a 7-year-old boy. They were all treated and released in Forks.
All four people were wearing seatbelts, according to the State Patrol, which was investigating the cause.
Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue Chief Jake Patterson urged drivers to be cautious with the heavier traffic.
Firefighters have responded to 13 vehicle collisions since July 13, several in the Lake Sutherland-Lake Crescent area, the fire district stated in a Monday press release.
“Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue would like to remind all drivers to be aware of your surroundings and slow down as needed when there is a large volume of traffic,” the release stated. “The weather will remain warm the next few weeks, and we are expecting a continued high volume of traffic.”
