Two women may be charged in fatal Whidbey crash

WHIDBEY ISLAND — Two women may be facing criminal charges in a crash that killed three people Friday night on Whidbey Island, police said Saturday.

An Oak Harbor woman, 21, was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Blazer that crossed the centerline and struck an oncoming car on Highway 20, according to the Washington State Patrol. But she wasn’t the only one driving the Blazer, Trooper Mark Francis said.

The driver took her hands off the steering wheel to remove her sweater, Francis said. The front seat passenger grabbed the wheel and was steering the Blazer, he said.

The passenger, a 22-year-old Oak Harbor woman, caused the Blazer to cross the centerline, Francis said. Both women jerked the wheel back to the right and then back to the left.

The Blazer crossed the centerline again. This time the Chevy slammed into an oncoming car being driven by a Canadian man, who died at the scene, Francis said. He was identified as Brian Wood, 33, of Vancouver, B.C.

His wife, who is six months pregnant, was injured in the crash. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She and the unborn baby are expected to recover, Francis said

Two men riding in the back of the Blazer were killed in the crash. They were identified by the State Patrol as Jacob Quistorf, 25, and Francis Malloy, 26, both of Oak Harbor.

Once she is released from the hospital, the driver of the Blazer is expected to be booked into jail for investigation of vehicular homicide and assault, Francis said.

Her front seat passenger was seriously injured in the crash and airlifted to Harborview. She remains there with a severe leg injury. She also is facing vehicular homicide and assault charges, Francis said.

Detectives say drugs likely were a factor in the crash. Investigators don’t believe alcohol played a role in the collision.

The deadly crash was one of a series of traffic accidents throughout the county Friday as Labor Day weekend began.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.