Two young men seriously injured in US-101 crash near Olympia

THURSTON COUNTY, WA — Two young Shelton men were hospitalized Wednesday evening after a serious crash on U.S. Highway 101 near Olympia, according to The Olympian.

The single-car accident occurred on a span of US-101 near Madrona Beach and the state Route 8 interchange.

Washington State Patrol said a car driven by an 18-year-old man was drifting into the left lane when it overcorrected and veered off the right hand shoulder of the road, dropped 30 feet down an embankment, and crashed into a tree. Before police arrived, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames with the driver and a passenger still inside.

After fire crews extinguished the flames and rescued the men, the 21-year-old passenger was taken to a hospital in Olympia with broken ribs. The 18-year-old driver was taken to Olympia Regional Airport before being airlifted to Harborview Medical Center with severe injuries. He is expected to survive, according to WSP.

Authorities determined the driver was impaired at the time of the accident and may face vehicular assault charges.

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