All lanes of SR 18 just east of the Tiger Mountain Summit were blocked for hours by a double fatality crash. The highway reopened at about 9:50 a.m.
PHOTOS: Fatality crash closes SR 18
The head-on crash occurred in the westbound lanes south of I-90 at 5:19 a.m. Friday.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said a pickup traveling westbound may have hit a curb, overcorrected, and then crossed the center line and struck a car. The two people in the car, both women, died at the scene.
The driver of the pickup, a man in his 30s, was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. He's under arrest for investigation of two counts of vehicular homicide, according to troopers, and is suspected to have been impaired.
The highway was closed at the scene for about five hours while troopers investigated.
KIRO 7 has learned the man who troopers say caused this morning’s deadly crash on SR 18 was just arrested for DUI last month.
The Washington State Patrol identified the driver as Joshua Hannick, 36, of Lacey.
Troopers believe Hannick was under the influence of narcotics Friday morning when he killed Jasmine Lao, 21, and Maria Wong, 59 of Auburn.
According to the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor’s Office, Hannick was arrested for DUI in Grays Harbor County on September 10th.
He was stopped between Elma and Montesano; the trooper recognized he was under the influence of narcotics, according to investigative documents.
Troopers say Hannick admitted to using drugs.
Investigators found what appeared to be heroin in the truck.
Prosecutors are waiting for the results of the toxicology report to file charges and say the backlog at the State Crime lab has them waiting.
Hannick is under investigation for two counts of vehicular homicide.
He’s under arrest at Harborview and will booked into the King County Jail when he is well enough.
Cox Media Group
