PORT TOWNSEND — Authorities seized 3 ounces of cocaine and three people were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after a car fleeing deputies at 130 mph crashed south of Port Townsend Saturday night.
Shawn P. Oliphant of Suquamish, 19, was driving a 2007 BMW 335 at 103 miles per hour when he passed a Jefferson County deputy on Center Road, said WSP Trooper Russ Winger.
The deputy tried to stop the vehicle, but it kept going.
“The Jefferson County deputy checked the car’s speed at over 100 miles per hour initially and he tried to catch up,” he said Sunday. “Eventually he lost sight of the vehicle.”
He said deputies had tried to use a spike strip once the vehicle got onto state Highway 104, but because the vehicle was traveling in a group of cars, they couldn’t use the strip.
Deputies lost the vehicle again, but found it wrecked at milepost 8 of Highway 104, 10 miles south of Port Townsend.
The vehicle rolled several times before it came to a stop.
“They had serious injuries,” he said.
Oliphant and two passengers, Justin Herrera, 21, and Veronica Williams, 20, both from Poulsbo, were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after the wreck.
He said when deputies arrived two people were still in the car and one was outside the vehicle.
Winger said that Oliphant, who is facing charges for eluding, reckless driving, vehicular assault, among other pending charges, will “be in the hospital for a bit.”
As the investigation continues, Winger said more charges are likely expected. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office asked WSP to bring a canine to the scene to search the area and officials found a backpack stashed in the woods.
Inside was about 3 ounces of powder cocaine, Winger said.
Investigators plan to obtain a search warrant for the vehicle, which was totaled during the wreck and impounded by WSP.
Winger said that Oliphant wouldn’t be arrested or officially charged until after he is discharged from the hospital.
“We won’t be doing anything until he is released,” he said. “Right now it’s only reckless driving and felony elude type stuff.”
WSP was the lead agency investigating the wreck over the weekend, though Winger said it’s possible the county could take over the investigation.
“Right now our detectives are handling it on scene,” he said.
When asked if either of the passengers would face any charges, Winger said it was still under investigation.
Efforts to reach Harborview Medical Center on Sunday for patient conditions were unsuccessful.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
