Icy crash on Highway 14 critically injures three

Three people are expected to survive after they were struck outside their disabled vehicle Thursday night on state Highway 14.

Washington State Patrol troopers were responding to a crash between a car and an attenuator around 8 p.m. near the Lieser Road exit. The vehicle flipped and hit the median barrier. The three people inside the vehicle got out, and shortly after they were hit by another vehicle that had lost control on the ice, according to WSP Trooper Dakota Russell.

The three people suffered what appeared to be life-threatening injuries and were taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Russell said. Friday morning, he said all three are now expected to survive but remain in critical condition.

Investigators do not anticipate bringing any charges against the drivers, and Russell said drugs and alcohol were not factors.

Further information about the identities of those involved was unavailable as troopers were busy responding to multiple calls throughout the region Friday.

Officials closed a few mile stretch of Highway 14 for several hours Thursday night as multiple cars lost control on the ice. Russell said Highway 14 was the worst freeway in the area Thursday night in terms of crashes and driving conditions.