9 taken to hospital after two unrelated collisions Friday night

Vancouver firefighters on Friday night were working two nearly back-to-back traffic collisions in different areas, which resulted in a total of nine people being taken to a hospital, one believed injured seriously.

In the first crash, at Northeast 94th Avenue and 99th Street, three adults and three children were taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center in four ambulances.

About 7 p.m., firefighters and Clark County Sheriff’s deputies rushed to the first crash, north of Padden Parkway and east of Interstate 205 near Sunset Elementary School.

Most seriously hurt in the head-on collision was a 39-year-old woman who had been the front-seat passenger of an Acura, with a total of 6 people riding inside, said Capt. Kevin Murray with the Vancouver Fire Department. The woman had to be cut from the wreckage and was rushed to the medical center with injuries that appeared serious.

Two other adults in the Acura were transported by AMR Northwest paramedics with injuries that didn’t appear life-threatening, Murray said.

An infant who was properly restrained in a car seat was believed unhurt.

A 6-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl in the Acura were placed on backboards as a precaution and transported to the medical center.

“The 6-year-old boy was sitting on the lap of the adult in the back seat,” a very unsafe practice, Murray said.

Washington laws require everyone in a vehicle to be properly restrained and motorists who violate the law can be fined.

The Acura and a Nissan had collided at the intersection. The 18-year-old driver of the Nissan refused medical treatment.

Names were not immediately available. More information should come later from the Sheriff’s Office.

At 7:23 p.m. Friday, shortly after the first crash, another was reported in the area of Southeast 192nd Avenue and 34th Street, east of Fisher’s Landing and near Camas.

The crash involved a car and a small pickup. The pickup rolled over once and its driver, a 35-year-old man, was taken to the medical center with injuries that did not appear life-threatening, Murray said.

Two women in the car were taken to the medical center on backboards, as precautions in case they were hurt.

Firefighters ended up with four of their engines tied up on the two crashes, and it was fortunate nothing else happened at the same time, Murray said.

“It put a strain on us,” Murray added.

Six ambulance crews also were tied up in the crashes.

With more darkness and wet roads, drivers need to be careful, Murray said.

In addition, weather experts say it’s possible we’ll get snow soon.

More information about the two crashes, including how they happened and who was involved, may come later from the Sheriff’s Office and Vancouver Police Department.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com