An Oak Harbor woman was airlifted from a field on North Whidbey following a medical episode that caused her to crash head-on into an oncoming car just south of the Deception Pass Bridge Thursday afternoon, the Washington State Patrol reported.

The highway was partially blocked for three hours while officials responded to the crash and traffic backed up for miles on both sides of the bridge.

Sue Christensen, 79, was southbound on Highway 20 in a 2016 Nissan Rogue SUV a few minutes before 4 p.m. when she suffered a “medical episode,” according to the state patrol’s press memo.

Christensen’s car crossed the centerline and struck a 2021 Ram pickup driven by 68-year-old Rafael Valdez.

The state patrol’s press memo did not explain the medical episode.

Christensen was transported to a field next to Soundview Shopper, where she was transferred to a helicopter that flew her to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett for treatment. Valdez was also injured and transported to Island Hospital in Anacortes.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts, according to the report.

Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol contributed to the cause of the crash, according to the state patrol.

A 79-year-old Oak Harbor woman suffered a medical episode before crashing head-on into another driver on Highway 20 just south of the Deception Pass Bridge Thursday afternoon. Photo by Bryan Fick/WestCoast Fire Media