Oak Harbor woman drives wrong way, crashes on I-5

An Oak Harbor woman may face a criminal charge for driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 last Friday and plowing head-on into another car, according to the Washington State Patrol. Arlys Abrahamse, 78, was driving south in a 2003 Mercury Sable and made a U-turn on the freeway just south of Mount Vernon, according to Trooper Mark Francis.

By Jessie Stensland • June 26, 2013 12:22 pm

An Oak Harbor woman may face a criminal charge for driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 last Friday and plowing head-on into another car, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Arlys Abrahamse, 78, was driving south in a 2003 Mercury Sable and made a U-turn on the freeway just south of Mount Vernon, according to Trooper Mark Francis.

Heading north in the southbound lane, Abrahamse’s car struck a southbound 1996 Subaru Impala driven by 29-year-old Anton Hofstetter of Mount Vernon.

The accident was reported at 5:27 a.m.

Both Abrahamse and Hofstetter were seriously injured and transported to Skagit Valley Hospital for treatment, according to the trooper.

Both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

Francis said Abrahamse may have been impaired by prescription medication.

She is being investigated for possible vehicular assault, a felony charge.

The Skagit County prosecutor will make any charging decision.