SEATTLE — Jefferson Healthcare hospital Commissioner Charles E. “Chuck” Russell is out of intensive care, a Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman said today.
His condition has been upgraded from serious to satisfactory.
Russell, 73, of Nordland was airlifted to the Seattle hospital Wednesday after he was injured in a 2:15 p.m. wreck on state Highway 104.
The State Patrol said his car crossed the centerline and crashed into a Dodge Ram pickup truck, killing one of the passengers and injuring two other people.
Robert F. Dawson, 88, of Bainbridge Island was killed in the two-vehicle collision at Milepost 7.9 between Center Road and state Highway 19.
Brett F. Dawson, 54, of Silverdale — another passenger in the pickup — was airlifted to Harborview along with Russell.
He was listed today in satisfactory condition, upgraded from serious.
Pamela J. Thresher, 53, of Suquamish — who was driving the pickup — was discharged from Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton today.
According to the State Patrol, Russell was traveling west on Highway 104 in a 2004 Honda Pilot when he swerved into the eastbound lane and collided with Thresher’s pickup, which was traveling east.
The State Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the wreck.
No drugs or alcohol were involved, as determined by a drug recognition officer who was on the scene, according to Trooper Russ Winger, State Patrol spokesman.
Russell, now serving in his 18th year on the hospital commission, is running for reelection in the Nov. 3 general election.
His opponent, former Port Townsend Mayor Kees Kolff, has suspended his campaign “as we wait for further information,” he said Thursday.
If it is determined before the election that Russell is unable to serve, his name cannot be removed from the ballot, according to county Elections Supervisor Betty Johnson.
If Russell, who has served 18 years as a hospital commissioner, is unable to serve, or if he wins the election and is unable to serve, the other four hospital commissioners will name a replacement with an election in November 2017 to fill the remainder of the six-year term.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
