ACCIDENTS IN SAN JUAN COUNTY

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San Juan County Sheriff's log

List of accident stories

Two flown off after accident on West Side Road

posted 06/25/01 updated 06/26/01
Katie Carlton and Elizabeth Burdette were medivaced to mainland hospitals after a single car accident late last night. The driver, Megan Osborne, told deputies she swerved to avoid a deer on West Side Road. The car left the roadway, hit a tree and flipped. According to Sheriff Bill Cumming there is no indication of drugs, alcohol or reckless driving.

Passenger Giovanni Drew was treated and released at Inter Island Medical Center. Andrea Carrol was at the medical center with possible back injuries. Osborne, who only had her license for one week, was uninjured.

Carlton was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham with a collapsed lung. As of 10 p.m. Monday night, she was in stable condition according to the nursing supervisor.

Burdette underwent three hours of surgery on her right arm/shoulder Tuesday night. She will need intense, long-term physical therapy and another surgery may be necessary to remove pins after the shoulder is healed. Her left leg is expected to heal without complications. She may come home on Wednesday.

New rules for teen drivers begin July 1

posted 06/26/01
A graduated driver license program begins this Sunday, July 1, 2001. Instead of Drivers receiving a regular license, drivers ages 16 to 18 will receive Intermediate Licenses. This type of license does not allow the driver to have passengers under the age of 20 in the car for the first six months -- except for family members. After the six-month period, the driver can have no more than three passengers under age 20 in the car. They cannot drive between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m. (exceptions are made for agricultural workers.

More details are available on the state Department of Licensing Web site