Three people in a Jeep that was hit head-on Saturday afternoon on state Highway 14 were still recovering Monday at local hospitals.
The passengers, Jenny M. O’Connor, 35, and Samuel W. Russell, 37, both of Vancouver, were in serious condition at PeaceHealth Southwest and Legacy Salmon Creek medical centers, respectively, according to hospital spokespeople. The driver, Brett A. Merritt, 36, also of Vancouver, was listed in satisfactory condition at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
A condition update for Mariah E. Lucas, 23, of Keizer, Ore., who was a passenger in the other vehicle, was unavailable Monday.
The crash, reported around 2 p.m., closed the westbound lanes of the highway for about three hours.
A 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche was traveling east on the highway near Milepost 19 when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle by using the westbound lane. The pickup collided with the westbound 1997 Jeep Cherokee, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Lucas was injured and life-flighted to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. As of Monday, she was no longer listed as a patient there.
The driver of the pickup, identified as Shawn C. LaBuff, 28, of Vancouver, was injured but declined medical aid, a State Patrol crash memo said.
Troopers cited passing in the oncoming lane as the cause of the crash. No drugs or alcohol were involved, the crash memo states, and everyone was wearing their seat belts.
