BIRCH BAY - A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault Monday night, Nov. 19, after he crashed a Plymouth Voyager into a power pole along Blaine Road.

Jack A. Smith Sr., of Blaine, was driving the green Voyager southbound about 7:10 p.m. near the intersection of Blaine and Alderson roads when he veered to the right and the van hit a power pole, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary.

Smith and a passenger in the car, Deborah A. Cuff, 48, were taken to St. Joseph hospital. Neither of them was wearing a seatbelt.

Troopers believe Smith was under the influence. Leary didn't have details about what led them to reach that conclusion, but he said a mandatory blood draw will reveal Smith's blood alcohol content. Smith was released from the hospital and booked into jail just after midnight.

Cuff was still in the hospital in satisfactory condition as of Tuesday afternoon.