Four people are seriously injured after the driver of a convertible strikes a tree and overturns his vehicle early Sunday morning.
Preliminary investigation indicates that on May 12th at approximately 3:31 a.m. a 21-year-old male driver was travelling northbound in the 2700 block of Harbor Avenue SW in his maroon 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible. There were three adult passengers in the vehicle, two females and one male. For reasons yet to be fully determined, the driver lost control of his vehicle, struck a tree and overturned. As a result of the rollover, both female passengers were ejected from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Fire department medics responded to the scene and treated all four occupants of the Chrysler for injuries sustained in the collision. Medics transported three of the occupants to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) with life-threatening injuries. The fourth was transported to HMC via ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers responded to HMC to evaluate the driver of the Chrysler for indications of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Signs of impairment were detected and a blood draw was performed. The results of that blood draw are pending laboratory analysis.
Northbound lanes of travel were closed and re-routed for approximately four hours while officers and detectives conducted their on-scene investigation.
Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.