Skagit County Triple Fatality Collision

Sedro Woolley, WA:  Just after 5:10 am on May 23, 2014 the Skagit County 9-1-1 Center and the Washington State Patrol received a 9-1-1 call about a serious injury motor vehicle accident. The initial caller stated  they were on Highway 20 about 2 miles west of  Birdsview.  The Birdsview Fire Department  and Medic  7 were dispatched to the call.  Around the same time the Washington State Patrol received additional calls about a serious injury collision just east of Minkler Road on Highway 20.   Sedro Woolley Fire/EMS were toned to the accident along with Skagit County Medic 1. While en route, dispatch notified the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office that the nearest WSP Trooper would be responding from Snohomish County. The Skagit County Sheriff and the Sedro Woolley Police Department both went en route. While en route, the Sedro Woolley Fire Department requested a mutual aid response from   Lyman and Punkin Center Fire Departments. An officer from the Sedro Woolley Police department arrived on scene and requested that Med Flight be put on Stand-by. It was learned that the accident appeared to be a head on collision and one vehicle was upside down in the ditch. The Sedro Woolley officer stated there were at least 3 critical patients and the jaws of life would be needed for extrication. It was also stated that she believed there was at least one fatality. Medic one requested that Medic 4 be toned for mutual aid. Upon arrival, the first responders requested Airlift Northwest be put in the air,  for a serious injury patient.  In all, three people died in the collision. According to the WSP, Vehicle one, a 1998 Audi A4 had four occupants in it. Nicole Washington, 23, of  Sedro Woolley and Megan Brown, 21, of Bellingham, both died at the scene.  A WSP trooper stated that both girls were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. A 3rd Occupant, 19 year old Alfredo Navarro Jr., from Mount Vernon was transported to Skagit Valley Hospital and later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with critical injuries. The fourth occupant Quinnton Baxter, 22, of Burlington, was airlifted directly from the scene to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with critical injuries. The Washington State Patrol could not determine who was driving the vehicle or if the young men were wearing Seat belts at the time of the accident. The Second Vehicle, a red Ford Fusion, was driven by Frederick “Fred” Brand, 65 of Concrete, WA. Mr. Brand died while en route to United General Hospital where he was going  to be transported via an Airlift NW Helicopter to Harborview Medical Center. Trooper said Mr. Brand was wearing his seat belt at the time of the collision. The accident is still being investigated by the Washington State Patrol, but Troopers reported that they believe the Audi crossed the center line and crashed into the Ford. The Audi then came to rest, upside down, in the westbound ditch.  Troopers said speed, crossing the center line and possibly alcohol all played factors in the accident.  Beer bottles were found at the scene. The Washington State Patrol is investigating and trying to determine if there was impairment and who was driving the Audi at the time of the collision. Depending on those two factors, charges could be filed against one of the two surviving males if they are found to have been driving the car,  and impaired,  at the time of the accident.  The highway was closed for several hour and long detours were set up for drivers trying to get around the accident scene.    The Highway reopened just before 11 am.