Justin J Rogers, Donald L Olmstead, and Five Minors Injured in Car Crash on Highway 20 at Pinelli Road
CONCRETE, WA (February 27, 2018) – On Tuesday night around 7:13 PM, a driver under the influence crashed into a transport bus carrying five youth wrestlers, on Highway 20 in Rural Skagit County.
47-year-old Justin J Rodgers was traveling northbound on Pinelli Road in a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, when he failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into a Concrete School District school bus. Rodgers was reportedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.
The Chevrolet Suburban that was going eastbound on Highway 20 and approaching Pinelli Rd, was driven by 41-year-old Donald L Olmstead of Concrete. His passengers included five members of the school wrestling team. State Trooper Heather Axtman said that their names and ages remain withheld because the victims are under the age of eighteen.
Rodgers and his 7-year-old-girl passenger suffered serious injuries and were taken to the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Both are in the intensive care unit and in critical condition as of Wednesday. Olmstead and four of his passengers were injured and taken to the Skagit Valley Hospital. One of the children in the bus was not injured.
According to officials, all eight people involved were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. A trooper cited Rodgers for failure to yield at a stop sign and driving under the influence. He was arrested for vehicular assault, which is a class B felony.
When under the influence of drugs or alcohol, do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. For your safety and the safety of others on the road, get another form of transportation. There are many affordable and accessible ways to get around including Uber, Lyft, taxi, public transportation, and even calling a friend or family member.
If you or your child has been injured in an auto accident due to the reckless and negligent driving of a person under the influence, contact the personal injury lawyers at Sweet Law Group. We will fight for your child’s rights, and achieve the compensation and justice that is owed for their suffering and damages caused. Call our offices at (800) 203-3061 for a free consultation, and discuss your case with a legal professional in your area.