Two Kelso women remained hospitalized Friday after they were injured in a crash on Interstate 5 Thursday afternoon. The crash occurred as they were on their way to Portland International Airport to catch a flight to Disneyland.
Trisha Austin, 46, and her daughter Emily Austin, 20, were passengers in a Chevrolet Suburban en route to the airport. Trisha Austin was listed in critical condition and Emily Austin in satisfactory condition Friday at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Thomas Austin, 53, was driving the Suburban southbound on the freeway when a tire blew out. He tried to steer the large vehicle onto the left shoulder but lost control. The SUV then veered into the median and rolled over, said Washington State Patrol Sgt. Ryan Tanner.
The crash was reported just after 2 p.m. near the Ridgefield truck weigh station. Thomas Austin and two other passengers, Justin Gillen, 23, and Alyssa Wilson, 25 — all from Kelso — were treated at PeaceHealth Southwest and released later in the day. There was no obvious wear on the tire that failed, Tanner said.
The crash caused traffic to back up into Woodland. The freeway remained clogged for about three hours.
