A Freeland man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after crashing his car Wednesday morning on Highway 20.

As of June 21, a Harborview spokesperson said Edward Sawyers was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit.

At approximately 11:20 a.m., Freeland resident Edward Sawyers, 74, was driving a Mercury Villager north on Central Whidbey Island when he veered off the road just south of the intersection at Libbey Road.

The minivan went partway down an embankment and crashed into some trees.

“He just drifted off the road. I’m not sure why,” said Howard Bledsoe, who lives near Libbey Road and witnessed the accident.

Bledsoe said wood and debris was flying in the air when he drove by the scene.

Firefighters from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue responded to the crash. They worked more than 30 minutes to extricate Sawyers from the minivan.

Once pulled from the wreckage, paramedics transported Sawyers to Whidbey General Hospital. Later he was airlifted to Harborview.

Troopers are still investigating the accident.

One lane of Highway 20 was closed while emergency personnel worked and troopers investigated.

The Wednesday morning wreck took place yards away from a location of a similar accident that occurred in May.

In that crash, a 30-year-old Clinton woman fell asleep and drifted off the roadway.