BOTHELL — A 16-year-old girl lost control of her father’s car on a curve and crashed into a utility pole Wednesday.

The girl was airlifted from the scene to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her condition was unavailable.

The crash occurred about 6:45 a.m. in the 23600 block of Carter Road in the Bothell area, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said. The girl was driving fast in a 25 mph zone and failed to negotiate a curve, she said.

The road was closed temporarily for the helicopter to land and pick up the girl. A utility crew responded to work on the pole.

Snohomish County

New council administrator: In a political shuffle, the Snohomish County Council is hiring the recently deposed King County Council’s chief of staff, after the Snohomish council forced the resignation of its longtime council administrator.

John Chelminiak will take over in Snohomish County after a two-year stint as chief of staff in King County came to an end when Democrats won control of the council in the November 2001 elections.

Chelminiak, who starts in late April, will replace Tom Dickson, who headed the council staff for 17 years. Dickson, a Democrat, recently announced his resignation after he was told a majority of the council wanted him to leave. Republicans gained a majority on the Snohomish County Council following the November election.

Chelminiak is a former manager for the news radio station KIRO (710 AM), according to his resume. He previously acted as communications manager for the King County Council and press secretary for the King County Executive. He worked in radio news before that.

Chelminiak will earn $93,000 a year, a mid-range salary for that position, Nelson said.

From Herald staff reports