Alcohol alleged as cause of fatal car accident

A one-car collision killed a Langley woman Saturday morning and seriously injured two others.

According to a Washington State Patrol collision report, Clinton resident Jace Richard Bahl, 24, was driving a 1991 Acura Integra. He was driving north on Langley Road at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday when the vehicle left the road and struck a dirt embankment near Tree Frog and Hollyhock lanes.

A 24-year-old passenger, Tinna Rankin of Langley, was killed instantly in the incident. Bahl was seriously injured in the collision, was a 23-year-old passenger, John James Sutton of Langley.

Neither Rankin or Bahl were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision. Bahl and Sutton were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Rankin was transported to Whidbey General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

According to a spokeswoman at Harborview Medical Center Monday, Bahl was listed in serious condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Sutton was listed in satisfactory condition.

Sutton’s mother, Margaret White, said Tuesday morning that she had spoken to her son after he came out of surgery to set a broken bone in his leg at Harborview. White said she is praying for her son’s and Jace Bahl’s recovery.

On Monday, Island County Coroner Robert Bishop said Rankin’s cause of death was listed on the death certificate as a brain-stem laceration due to blunt-force trauma resulting from a motor vehicle collision.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol, but alcohol was listed in the collision report as a factor of the crash.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.