One person killed in head-on collision on SR 503 east of Woodland

One person was killed and two others were injured in a head-on crash Friday afternoon on state Highway 503 near Butte Hill Road east of Woodland in Cowlitz County, according to Washington State Patrol.

Emergency responders were dispatched at 1:36 p.m. to the highway at Milepost 50.8. A northbound 1999 Kia Sephia drifted into the oncoming lane and collided with a southbound silver 1998 BMW Z3. The Kia came to rest in the northbound lanes facing south, and the BMW went down an embankment, according to a WSP crash memo.

LifeFlight transportation was put on standby but was not needed, Trooper Will Finn said.

The driver of the Kia, identified as William A. Giske, 75, of Ariel, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Richard W. Wilson, 74, also of Ariel, was injured and transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. Wilson’s condition was unavailable Friday evening.

A small dog in the Kia was also injured. Woodland police took the dog to a local animal hospital, Finn said. The animal’s condition was unknown.

Finn said the BMW driver, identified as Steven A. Mauldin, 60, of Woodland, was alert and talking when troopers arrived on scene. He, too, was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Mauldin’s condition was also unavailable Friday evening.

Initially, all lanes of the highway were closed for investigation, but one lane reopened a couple hours later allowing alternating traffic, Finn said.

Both cars were totaled and towed from the scene.

The crash is under investigation.