One dead, several hurt in Highway 14 crash

A woman who drove the wrong way on state Highway 14 just near Grand Boulevard died Saturday after initiating a five-vehicle accident that sent two others to the hospital.

The multi-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. when the woman drove a 1991 Honda Accord east in the westbound fast lane of Highway 14, according to a press statement from Washington State Patrol Trooper Steve Schatzel.

The Honda first collided with a 2008 Volkswagen driven by Krystal McLaughlin, 30, of Portland. McLaughlin swerved to try to avoid a crash but was struck in the left rear quarter panel. McLaughlin was not injured.

Next, Kyle Talley, 23, of West Hills, Calif., swerved the 2005 Jeep he was driving and was able to avoid being hit by the Honda but was forced off the roadway. Talley was not injured, according to Schatzel.

The Honda continued east and crashed head-on into a 2004 Acura driven by Brian J. Gonsalves, 33, of Camas. He was taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center with a fractured right ankle. His passenger, Elizabeth M. Gonsalves, 32, of Camas, was taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center with a fractured neck, spine, and left wrist, as well as abdominal injuries, according to Schatzel. She was in critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit late Saturday, a spokeswoman said.

At nearly the same time as the Honda hit Gonsalves’ Acura, the Honda struck a 2003 Oldsmobile driven by Laissa Afterbuffalo, 20, of Vancouver. Afterbuffalo swerved to the right and was sideswiped by the oncoming Honda. Neither Afterbuffalo nor her passenger, Kyle Bell, 21, of Vancouver, were injured.

The woman who drove the Honda, who had not been identified at The Columbian’s press time, died at the scene. Schatzel said the WSP will investigate how she entered Highway 14 going the wrong direction.

Schatzel said it is not known if alcohol or drugs were involved with the driver of the Honda. He said it will be a part of the investigation.

The Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Fire Department assisted the Washington State Patrol at the scene of this collision, which closed lanes for several hours.