Vehicular homicide charges possible in Whidbey crash

OAK HARBOR - The driver and the front-seat passenger of a Chevy Blazer that triggered a deadly crash Friday night on Whidbey Island are both facing possible vehicular homicide charges, the Washington State Patrol says.

State troopers said the 1994 Blazer crossed the center line of Highway 20 and hit an oncoming Subaru Outback, head on, at about 8:50 p.m., about five miles north of Oak Harbor.

Three people were killed in the crash - two male passengers in the back seat of the Blazer and the man who was driving the Subaru.

Three others were hurt - the pregnant wife of the man driving the Subaru as well as the Blazer's driver and her front-seat passenger.

A Washington State Patrol spokesperson said Saturday that the driver of the Blazer, Jordyn B. Weichert, 21, of Oak Harbor, was believed to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

According to the spokesperson, the crash was triggered when Weichert decided to take off her sweater or jacket as she was driving north along the two-lane highway.

The remains of the crashed Blazer at the scene.Weichert's front-seat passenger, Samantha R. Bowling, 22, of Oak Harbor, held the steering wheel while Weichert removed the article of clothing, the State Patrol said.

During the maneuver, Bowling lost control of the Blazer. It swerved across the centerline, then back into its own lane as Bowling over-corrected, then back across the centerline, crashing into the Subaru, the State Patrol said.

A State Patrol spokesperson said Weichert could be charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault and will be booked into the Island County jail when she is released from the hospital.

Bowling also faces a possible vehicular homicide charge when she is released from the hospital, the State Patrol said.

Officials said the driver of the Subaru, Brian R. Wood, 33, of North Vancouver, B.C., died at the scene of the crash.

His wife, Erin E. Wood, 31, was riding with him in the Subaru. She is hospitalized but in improving condition. She is six months pregnant.

Two young men riding in the back seat of the Blazer also were killed - Jacob D. Quistorf, 25, and Francis C. Malloy, 26, both of Oak Harbor.

Weichert, Bowling and Malloy were all ejected from the Blazer in the crash. Quistorf was wearing a seatbelt but was killed by the impact.

"I've been here since August of '96, and I haven't seen a wreck like this. I've seen significant damage ... but as far as injuries and loss of life, this is the biggest one I've seen since I've been here," said a trooper at the scene.

The three injured were all taken to Whidbey General Hospital. Two of the injured were later taken to Harborview - one with head injuries and one with hip injuries.

Highway 20 was closed until after 2 a.m. while the accident scene was investigated and debris cleared from the roadway.