A crash involving three vehicles Friday evening in rural Pierce County between Clear Lake and McKenna has left one person dead.
According to a release from the Washington State Patrol, the collision occurred after 8 p.m. on state Route 702 near Eighth Avenue Court East.
Two vehicles, a Ford F250 pickup driven by a 27-year-old man, and a Jeep driven by a 31-year-old man, were traveling eastbound on 702, while a third vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by a 77-year-old man, was traveling westbound.
The driver of the Jeep slowed to make a left turn onto Eighth Avenue Court East, while the driver of the Ford pickup entered the westbound lane and struck the other vehicles.
Both pickups came to rest fully blocking the highway, while the Jeep came to rest on the westbound shoulder of Eighth Avenue Court East.
The driver of the Ford was injured but not transported to a hospital; the driver of the Jeep was uninjured. The third driver was taken to Tacoma General Hospital, where he died.
All were wearing seatbelts, according to the release.
The deceased driver's identity was withheld pending notification of family.
The collision blocked traffic for nearly two hours, WSP reported.
