12/22/2008: "Serious Accident On SJ: Woman In Surgery"

(Updated 12-22-08; 10:15 pm) Snow and ice on roadway resulted in serious injuries to San Juan Island resident Beth Hudson on Sunday when her car was struck by one car, that in turn was struck by other vehicles. The multiple vehicle accident started at approximately 11:00 p.m.

The problem started when a car was seen on Portland Fair road having a problem due to the ice and a second car stopped to give assistance. The driver and passenger of the car were attempting to help the woman when a third car came over the hill and struck the two young men and the driver of the original car.

The collision pushed the second car into the first one, resulting in the woman being trapped under her car, where she sustained crushing injuries. The two men were uninjured.

Paramedics responded, but they too were surprised by the ice, and they lost control and hit the third car, and this may have caused new movement to the first car where the woman was trapped.

Following the paramedic vehicle were two fire engines, one of which also slid into a ditch, but did not hit any of the other vehicles.

After all of the vehicles came to rest, the new problem was how to lift the car off of the woman without it further sliding, and possibly injuring her even more. Someone had the idea of blocking the car with a fire engine to keep it from sliding, then jacking up one side to free the woman.

The woman was removed from under her car and flown off island to Harbor view Medical Center in critical condition. She has undergone surgery, but may have to have additional surgery. Her injuries are reported to be numerous.

The accident is under continuing investigation by the Sheriff's office.

San Juan County Public Works Operations Manager Russ Harvey said shortly after 2pm today (Monday) that the roads are getting more treacherous as the temperature is warming. “People shouldn’t think that it is a good time to get out on the road and run errands just because the sun has come out.”

Harvey said that there is so much ice and packed snow on the roads that it will get slicker as the ice starts to liquefy. We’re having troubled keeping our own rigs on the road and we’re set up to operate in this weather,” he said. He urges drivers to use extreme caution and to avoid making unnecessary trips.