A rural mail carrier who failed to yield to oncoming traffic Tuesday afternoon, apparently caused an accident that sent her and a 69-year-old man to the hospital.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Katharin Major, 31, of Everett was attempting to pull her 2000 Jeep Cherokee onto Highway 525 at 12:50 p.m. from eastbound Double Bluff Road when she was struck by a Mercury Marquis driven by Langley’s Warren Evertt.

A state trooper at the scene of the accident said it appeared events took place so suddenly that Evertt did not have time to apply his brakes. His car struck Major’s at highway speeds.

Rescue workers from Fire Protection District 3 had to use saws and pneumatic tools to remove Evertt from his car. The man was conscious as aid workers treated him at the scene. His dog, who troopers say was in the car with him at the time of the crash, was not injured.

Major, who had a left-side steering wheel in her vehicle, may have avoided serious injury in the accident, said another trooper at the scene. She was not on the side of the car that took the impact, and was able to drive her vehicle out of the roadway before rescue personnel arrived.

Major was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. The state patrol has not determined whether or not Evertt was wearing a seat belt.

Both vehicles involved in the accident were classified as total losses by the state patrol.

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