A 69-year-old Ethel man was airlifted to Tacoma General Hospital on Sunday after the vehicle he was driving was rear-ended by another vehicle on U.S. Highway 12 in Salkum, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Jay R. Suitter was traveling east on U.S. Highway 12 at about 10:45 a.m. on Sunday when he slowed down in preparation to make a left turn, according to the state patrol. He was then rear-ended by a vehicle traveling behind him driven by Delila M. Westmoreland, 35, of Mossyrock.
While Suitter was injured and airlifted for medical attention, Westmoreland and her passenger, Larry D. Lester, 61, of Mossyrock, were not injured. All three individuals involved in the crash were wearing their seat belts, according to the state patrol.
The state patrol listed “following too close” as the cause of the crash and noted that drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors.
Suitter’s 2003 Ford Crown Victoria and Westmoreland’s 2005 Ford Crown Victoria were both totalled in the crash, according to the state patrol.
