Suspected drunk driving causes serious accident on SR-18; two injured

A serious accident on State Route 18 near mile marker 22 left two people injured and caused significant traffic delays on the evening of May 25, 2024. The collision involved three vehicles and the road was closed for over seven hours.

According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the accident occurred at approximately 10:13 p.m. Vehicle number one, driven by a 25-year-old man from Bremerton, was traveling east on SR-18.

The driver attempted to pass another eastbound vehicle (Vehicle #3) and struck the right rear bumper of the vehicle. The vehicle lost control, overturned, and slid into the westbound lane where it collided with Vehicle #3.

Vehicle two, driven by a 42-year-old Maple Valley man, was traveling westbound and attempted to avoid the collision by moving to the right shoulder. Despite this, vehicle one collided with vehicle two, causing both to come to a stop in the westbound lane. Vehicle three, driven by a 51-year-old man, sustained reportable damage and came to a stop on the eastbound shoulder.

The Bremerton man and his passenger, a 29-year-old man also from Bremerton, were both injured and taken to Overlake Hospital. The driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, and it is unknown if the passenger was wearing a seatbelt. The driver faces possible charges of drunken driving and assault with a vehicle.

Fortunately, all other drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts and suffered no injuries.

The collision and subsequent investigation caused significant traffic delays; SR-18 was closed for seven hours and 20 minutes.

(Featured image credit: Snoqualmie Police Department Facebook page)