A driver died and two others suffered multiple injuries in a two-vehicle crash northeast of Washougal on Sunday night, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Police and medical crews were called to the 36500 block of Northeast Washougal River Road, about 4 miles northeast of Washougal, around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, according to emergency dispatch logs.
When responders arrived, they found two heavily damaged vehicles and three injured people who needed to be extracted from the cars, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
Evidence at the scene and statements from witnesses indicated a white Subaru sedan was headed northbound on Washougal River Road, passing vehicles and crossing over the center line of the road when it collided head-on with a southbound Kia sedan, deputies said.
The collision happened in the southbound lane, deputies said.
“The driver of the white Subaru was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Kia and a passenger in the Subaru were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. No other occupants were involved in the collision,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The deceased was identified as 21-year-old Joshua J. Schmid. His passenger, 21-year-old McKenzie K. Laird, suffered serious injuries due to the crash, the sheriff’s office said in a Monday afternoon press release.
The driver of the Kia Spectra was identified as Zachary A. Hartman, 23. Hartman also suffered serious injuries.
The two surviving victims’ conditions were not available.
A dog riding in Schmid’s Subaru was transferred to a concerned resident near the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. The dog didn’t appear to be hurt badly, and was set to go back to family, the sheriff’s office said.
Traffic unit investigators conducted an extensive investigation at the scene of the collision, which closed the roadway until about 1:30 a.m. Monday.
A power pole was damaged in the crash, causing a power outage for a single nearby home.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
