By MICHELLE BEAHM
mbeahm@soundpublishing.com
KINGSTON — One person died and two were injured in a two-car, head-on collision on state Highway 104 late March 11.
A 28-year-old Sequim man, whose identity was being withheld until next of kin were notified, was declared dead at the scene, Washington State Patrol reported.
Multiple IDs were found on the Sequim man, according to Trooper Russ Winger, and his actual name was not confirmed as of March 12.
James Norberg, 53, was driving the second vehicle with an unidentified 14-year-old passenger. Both were injured in the crash.
Michele Laboda of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue said personnel had to use hydraulic extrication equipment in order to free Norberg and his passenger from their car.
Laboda said the 14-year-old was airlifted from Wolfle Elementary School to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with multi-system trauma. Laboda said Norberg was going to be airlifted to Harborview as well, but the helicopter was delayed.
Poulsbo Fire Department paramedics transported Norberg to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton; he was transferred to Harborview later that night.
Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg said Norberg and the teen were in the Intensive Care Unit in serious but stable condition, as of morning March 12. The teenager’s condition was improving and she was expected to be moved soon out of ICU, Gregg said.
A witness said the Sequim driver’s 1994 Toyota Camry was headed westbound on the highway when he crossed over the center line and collided with the other vehicle, Norberg’s black 1994 Jeep Cherokee, at the intersection of Highway 104 and Parcells Road. The crash occurred at about 7:47 p.m.
The collision caused both cars to spin; the Camry came to rest in the center of the intersection and the Jeep stopped at the eastbound shoulder of the road. None of the people involved were wearing seat belts, according to Washington State Patrol.
The cause of the crash was under investigation on March 11, but Trooper Russ Winger said the initial cause is “crossing the center line.” He added that there was potential for drugs or alcohol being involved, but that won’t be known until after an autopsy and toxicology are completed.
The crash is believed to be the third fatal crash in Kitsap this year as of March 11.
Three Olympic High School students were killed in a single-car rollover crash on Seabeck-Holly Road NW on Jan. 11. The 17-year-old driver received a 45- to 108-week sentence; he admitted driving too fast and having smoked marijuana earlier that day.
On March 11, an Aberdeen woman died in Tacoma General Hospital from injuries sustained when her car crashed March 5 on Burley-Olalla Road.