SEKIU — A Bellingham man sprained his ankle when the Chevrolet Suburban he was driving veered off Hoko-Ozette Road and nearly plunged over an embankment near Sekiu on Wednesday.
Harold Plaster, 41, told a Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputy that he became distracted when an item fell off the dashboard.
Deputy Todd Yarnes said Plaster apparently took his eyes off the road before the vehicle became lodged against a tree.
According to a witness, the driver overcompensated when the SUV left the roadway and spun over the embankment about 1.3 miles south of state Highway 112.
“I think the rear end slid down on him,” Yarnes said. “It’s quite a drop-off.”
The vehicle was stuck against a tree and a boulder, preventing it from sliding roughly 15 feet into the riverbed, Yarnes said.
Plaster and his two female passengers were able to exit the vehicle under their own power.
“He was lucky he slid into tree,” Yarnes said. “It held him in place.”
The passengers, both of whom are from unincorporated Clallam County, were not seriously injured, Yarnes said.
Witnesses said the vehicle did not appear to be speeding. Drugs or alcohol were not involved, the Sheriff’s Office said.
All three people in the vehicle were attending the Tribal Canoe Journey in Neah Bay, Yarnes said.
The wreck was reported by dispatchers at 1:07 p.m.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladaily news.com.
