Washington State Patrol responded to two serious accidents on Whidbey Island Wednesday.
A Clinton man died following a crash on South Whidbey, though it’s unclear whether it was the result of the accident or a “medical episode” that caused his vehicle to swerve.
Two Oak Harbor resident were injured in another accident on North Whidbey.
Wednesday morning, Lisa Lerch, 45, of Oak Harbor was traveling west in a 1997 Volvo on Crescent Harbor Road when an oncoming 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass driven by Lawrence McBride crossed the centerline and collided with Lerch’s car, the state patrol reported.
Lerch was seriously injured and transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment. She was reported in satisfactory condition Thursday afternoon.
McBride, 35, of Oak Harbor was also injured and transported to WhidbeyHealth Medical Center in Coupeville. He was treated and released.
The state patrol’s report states that charges related to the crash are pending.
Just after noon, another two-car accident occurred on State Highway 525 near Crawford Road.
Clinton resident Larry Poolman was southbound on the highway in his 1978 Chevrolet pickup truck and had just passed Crawford Road when he suffered a “medical episode,” according to the state patrol. His vehicle swerved into the northbound lane, colliding with a 2005 Dodge Durango driven by Michael Newberry of Newcastle.
Also in the car was Michael Newberry’s wife, Cindy Newberry, and their dog.
The truck rolled into the ditch along the northern shoulder of the highway and the Durango came to a stop about 50 yards away in the same lane.
While it’s currently unclear whether Poolman was injured in the crash, police said he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Poolman was transported by ambulance to WhidbeyHealth Medical Center in Coupeville.
The Newberrys also went to the hospital, though their injuries were described as “minor” by South Whidbey Fire/EMS first responders.
The collision shut down traffic in both lanes for about one and a half hours; the northbound lane remained closed for a while longer as the scene was cleared and processed by the state patrol.
