Two injured in chain-reaction car accident

Two people were injured in a four-car, chain-reaction accident in Oak Harbor early Tuesday afternoon. Oak Harbor Police Officer Dennis Dickinson said he had just made a traffic stop in the northbound lane of Highway 20 when the accident occurred in the southbound lane, near the intersection with NE 16th Avenue.

By Jessie Stensland • July 21, 2009 6:14 pm
Firefighters clean up fluids leaking from two of the four vehicles involved in a collision in Oak Harbor Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters clean up fluids leaking from two of the four vehicles involved in a collision in Oak Harbor Tuesday afternoon.

Two people were injured in a four-car, chain-reaction accident in Oak Harbor early Tuesday afternoon.

Oak Harbor Police Officer Dennis Dickinson said he had just made a traffic stop in the northbound lane of Highway 20 when the accident occurred in the southbound lane, near the intersection with NE 16th Avenue.

The chain reaction started when a Nissan Maxima struck a Honda CRV. A Ford Escape struck the Nissan, then a Saturn Vue struck the Ford. The Saturn SUV appeared to have the most serious damage.

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Dickinson said two people were transported to Whidbey General Hospital by ambulance. The injuries appeared to be minor, he added.

Oak Harbor resident Ruth Terrill was driving the Ford Escape. While she said the accident “happened so fast,” she guessed that she and the other drivers were distracted by the motorcycle officer in the other lane.

“It’s all his fault,” she joked.

The accident was reported just after 1 p.m. One lane of Highway 20 was closed while the accident was cleared.