An 82-year-old Oak Harbor man died Tuesday morning in a five car accident north of Dugualla Bay.
The accident sent three people to area hospitals and shut down Highway 20 near Jones Road for several hours while police investigated.
Franz J. Pfister was driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla southbound around 9 a.m. when he tried to use a passing lane to get by Fred W. Linton, 57, of Tacoma, according to a press memo from Washington State Patrol.
Pfister struck Linton, who was driving a 2014 freight-liner with double trailers, which caused Pfister to go into the northbound lane into oncoming traffic.
Pfister struck Martin Van Rensum, 80, also of Oak Harbor, head-on.
Rensum then struck Bernard Langdon, 88 of Burlington, who was driving a 1997 Toyota pickup truck.
Pfister then struck Tamara M. Snyder, 41, of Oak Harbor, driving a 2008 Volkswagon Rabbit before the accident came to a rest.
Pfister died at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing emergency personnel trying to resuscitate Pfister before eventually covering his vehicle with a canvas.
Van Rensum and Langdon were transported to Whidbey General Hospital.
Langdon’s son Joseph Langdon reported his father had a possible lacerated kidney.
Snyder was transported to Island Hospital.
Linton was not injured.
Pfister’s vehicle was totaled. Van Rensum, Langdon and Snyder’s were all towed from the scene.
Linton’s freight-liner was driven from the scene with some damage.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, according to Washington State Patrol.
It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved.
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:
A multiple-vehicle accident on State Highway 20 north of Jones Road this morning has caused a fatality and stopped traffic in both directions along the highway.
The Washington State Patrol is investigating the accident that involved two pickup trucks, a semitruck and two sedans.
The Washington State Patrol has confirmed a fatality and there are others injured.
Traffic in both directions is being detoured to side roads, namely Monkey Hill Road, to get through the area where the accident took place.
More details will be reported as they are made available.
