Passenger’s condition improves, driver still critical after collision Saturday near BG

Several days after a two-vehicle collision north of Battle Ground, a passenger in one vehicle, Mary Anne Veentjer, 53, had improved from critical to satisfactory condition Tuesday night at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

But the driver of a Toyota pickup Veentjer rode in, Judith R. May, 64, of La Pine, Ore., remained in critical condition in intensive care at PeaceHealth, a nursing supervisor said Tuesday night.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet pickup, was Ray Curry, 32, of Battle Ground. He was treated at a hospital and released.

Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Roberts said the accident happened about 2:42 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Northeast 142nd Avenue and 249th Street.

A press release said the crash occurred when the Toyota was southbound on Northeast 142nd Avenue, turned west onto Northeast 249th Street and made a sudden U-turn back onto Northeast 142nd Avenue — directly into the path of the southbound Chevrolet pickup.

The Chevrolet pickup struck the driver’s side of the Toyota, the press release said. It said the driver of the Chevy did not have time to avoid the crash.

The collision is under investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit.

Roberts said there was no evidence to suggest either driver was impaired.

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