UPDATE: Man, 66, in serious condition after minivan crash

A 66-year-old man was in serious condition at a local hospital Tuesday morning after firefighters rescued him from a minivan on its side Monday evening.

The traffic accident happened at 5:44 p.m. on 219th Street, just north of the Interstate 5 exit

The Washington State Patrol said Norman W. Klam of La Center was eastbound on 219th Street and a 1993 Honda Civic driven by Mary E. Wisniewski, 19, of La Center was westbound on the street and was stopped to make a left turn. Klam’s 2006 Chrysler minivan crossed the centerline and struck the front of the Civic and then came to rest on its side in the westbound lane, the patrol said.

Klam was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

Wisniewski was not injured, the patrol said.

Battalion Chief Brett Graham of Clark County Fire & Rescue said the first engine arrived in four minutes.

“The vehicle was on its side,” Graham said.

It became apparent that Klam would need to be extricated and, “they cut the front window shield out and removed him out the front windshield,” Graham said. He said firefighters used an ax to break the windshield. Stabilization struts were used to ensure the car did not come down on anyone.

He said the minivan tipped onto the passenger’s side. Klam was the lone occupant.

Graham said eight firefighters and three engines, including a crew from Fire District 6, responded. For a while, the accident blocked the Battle Ground offramp.

Klam was cited for second-degree negligent driving.