PORT TOWNSEND – A 19-year-old Port Hadlock man said he blacked out before he drove through the Howard Street roundabout, hit a van and crashed into trees on the eastbound side of Sims Way.
Benjamin Coulter was taken to Jefferson Healthcare for treatment after the wreck at 9:15 p.m. Thursday, said Officer Luke Bogues, spokesman for the Port Townsend Police Department.
A nursing supervisor at Jefferson Healthcare said Friday that Coulter was not admitted as a patient.
Florence Lail, 49, of Port Townsend — who was driving the van that was hit — said she was not hurt, Bogues said.
State Highway 20, known as Sims Way inside the city, was shut down to traffic for more than an hour following the collision, with detouring traffic sent onto Discovery and Mill roads.
Coulter will be cited for driving off the roadway, Bogues said Friday, adding that a report will be forwarded to the Department of Licensing recommending he undergo a driver re-examination due to a possible medical condition.
Swerved to right
Coulter was driving a red 2003 Oldsmobile Alero westbound on Sims Way when, according to a witness, he swerved to the right of the road after driving through the Howard Street roundabout, Bogues said.
Lail said she attempted to pass Coulter with her white 1998 Chrysler Town and Country van.
Coulter drifted left and collided with the passing van.
Lail’s vehicle was pushed into the oncoming lane, and Coulter continued driving straight.
Coulter continued down the road, veered right, then drove through oncoming traffic.
His Oldsmobile drove west off the eastbound side of the highway, striking trees and crashing through two signposts owned by the state Department of Transportation.
After nearly 150 feet, Coulter’s vehicle struck a large tree and came to a stop.
Coulter told police he regained consciousness and found his vehicle crashed in the trees.
He said he had been suffering from an inner ear infection. Prior to the Howard Street roundabout, his ear felt stopped up, so he tried to clear it, he said.
After clearing his ear, he became light-headed and blacked out.
Wearing seat belt
Coulter likely avoided serious injury because he was wearing a seat belt and air bags in the vehicle deployed, Bogues said.
Lail’s van sustained several thousand dollars of damage and was driven away, Bogues said.
Coulter’s Oldsmobile was destroyed and towed from the scene.
Neither driver in the collision exhibited signs of drug or alcohol impairment, Bogues said.
In addition to Port Townsend police and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, the State Patrol responded to assist in the investigation.
