Langley Passage hearing abruptly adjourned after consultant collapses

LANGLEY – A public hearing on the controversial Langley Passage housing project was abruptly adjourned Wednesday evening after a consultant collapsed just moments after beginning his presentation.

Quin Clements had just started a discussion of drainage issues for the proposed 20-lot project and was fielding questions from the city’s Planning Advisory Board when he suddenly fell to the floor of Fellowship Hall in Langley United Methodist Church.

It was not immediately apparent why Clements collapsed.

The dramatic moment came 90 minutes into the hearing, the third day of testimony for the single-family housing project in the Edgecliff neighborhood.

Clements, an engineer with Davido Consulting Group, had just started a slide show and was taking a pause in his presentation to answer questions from PAB members. He told board members he was having trouble understanding their questions, and then dropped the microphone.

After picking up the microphone and dropping it again, Clements began to stand up and then fell over.

The audience of nearly 30 sat surprised for a half moment, then one woman jumped to her feet and asked “Is there a doctor in the house? Is there a doctor in the house?” as other people in the crowd rushed to Clements’ side.

PAB Member Julie Buktenica pulled out a cell phone and dialed 911 as Clements remained on the floor, motionless.

People nearby said later he hit his head on a table as he collapsed.

Emergency crews arrived just after 5:30 p.m.

PAB Chairman Jim Sunberg announced the meeting would be adjourned and the hearing would continue at the board’s first meeting in May.

Paramedics said Clements was alert and responsive, and he asked not to be taken to the hospital.

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