Both drivers walk away from Harbor Avenue crash

Published 1:09 pm Friday, January 23, 2015

The drivers of a near head-to-head two-car crash in Freeland on Friday both escaped serious injury.

Just before noon Jan. 23, Freeland resident Crystal Baker’s Dodge sedan was hit as she was driving north on Highway 525. Eric Ray of Greenbank, driving a Mazda Protege, was southbound on the state route and turned left in front of her toward Harbor Avenue, crashing into the oncoming Dodge.

“He didn’t see her and he turned,” said Washington State Patrol Trooper Dave Martin.

The impact sent the red sedan into the rocky ditch near Whidbey Island Bank. The white Mazda spun around and stopped on the highway diagonally across the northbound lane and part of the left turn lane.

Baker was transported by ambulance to a hospital for some reported soreness while Ray was taken to his nearby doctor’s office, also by ambulance — both were Whidbey General Hospital vehicles.

Martin issued Ray a citation for failing to yield to oncoming traffic, which carries a $175 fine.

“Whenever you’re crossing the lane, you have to yield to oncoming traffic,” said Island County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Evan Tingstad, who also responded to the crash.

Traffic through the busy intersection in Freeland was diverted as the state patrol investigated and the drivers were being attended to by emergency responders.

Northbound traffic was rerouted onto Harbor Avenue and back toward the highway. Southbound traffic was not disrupted. The road was fully reopened by 12:35 p.m.

Martin said it had been a while since he responded to a car crash at the Harbor Avenue-highway intersection.