Troopers: Suspected drunken driver seriously injures 2 in crash near Deming

One person had life-threatening injuries and another had serious injuries after a suspected drunken driver caused a head-on crash on Mount Baker Highway near Deming on Friday, Jan. 1, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The two-car crash took place in the westbound lane of the highway, just west of Highway 9, around 1 p.m., said WSP spokesman Mark Francis.

Jake Dubbs, 32, of Deming was driving a Ford F-150 east on Mount Baker Highway when the truck crossed the center line, Francis said. A Honda CR-V going the opposite direction tried to swerve off the road to avoid the collision but couldn’t because of a guard rail, he said. The cars struck each other head on.

The driver of the CR-V was a man in his 60s, identified by troopers as Marty Thawsh. He had life-threatening injuries and was transported to St. Joseph hospital. He may be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Friday night, Francis said.

Laura Thawsh, Marty’s wife, had serious injuries and was taken to St. Joseph hospital. There were also two dogs in the CR-V, Francis said, one of which was killed in the crash.

Dubbs suffered minor injuries. Troopers believe he was drunk at the time of the crash. Francis said Dubbs would be booked into jail when he is released from St. Joseph hospital.

The crash blocked the westbound lane of Mount Baker Highway, and troopers were alternating traffic Friday afternoon. The scene was expected to be clear by around 5 p.m., Francis said.

This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Troopers: Suspected drunken driver seriously injures 2 in crash near Deming."