A two-vehicle head-on collision in Port Ludlow sent two people to a Seattle hospital Monday. Jefferson County Sheriff's Department

A two-vehicle head-on collision in Port Ludlow sent two people to a Seattle hospital Monday. Jefferson County Sheriff's Department

Two recovering at Seattle hospital after Port Ludlow wreck

PORT LUDLOW — Two people were recovering at a Seattle hospital Tuesday after being seriously injured in a two-car head-on collision Monday afternoon.

Franz Gruber of Port Ludlow was in satisfactory condition and John Church of Everett was in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

At about 2:25 p.m. Monday, Gruber was driving a silver Toyota Camry northbound on Paradise Bay Road, just west of Timberton Drive, when the car crossed into the southbound lane and hit head-on a blue Mazda driven by Church, causing serious injuries to both drivers, said Deputy Kevin Denney of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Both drivers were flown to Harborview, Denney said.

He said he did not know their ages.

Denney said troopers continued to investigate Tuesday why Gruber crossed into the oncoming lane.

It was not yet known if drugs or alcohol contributed to the wreck, he said.

The road was closed in both directions for several hours Monday afternoon while Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies investigated.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.

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