Head-on collision sends five to hospital

Five people were transported to the hospital Friday evening following a high speed, two-car collision in Freeland. The accident occurred on Highway 525 near the Texico gas station at about 9:20 p.m. According to a witness, a southbound vehicle with two passengers and a northbound vehicle with three passengers collided head-on.

Five people were transported to the hospital Friday evening following a high speed, two-car collision in Freeland.

The accident occurred on Highway 525 near the Texico gas station at about 9:20 p.m. According to a witness, a southbound vehicle with two passengers and a northbound vehicle with three passengers collided head-on.

Two children, one in each car, were involved in the crash. Mike Cotton, deputy chief of South Whidbey Fire/EMS, said at the scene that he did not know the extent of their injuries or the other three people involved.

The children and two women were immediately transported to the hospital but the driver of one of the vehicles was pinned in his car for about 30 minutes before firefighters were able to free the man using specialized emergency equipment.

“The extraction was a little difficult… he was compressed in as the car buckled,” Cotton said.

As of 10:15 p.m., both lanes of traffic were still closed and motorists were being rerouted to Shoreview Drive.