BLYN — A Sequim man died and a California man was injured in a fiery four-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101 in Blyn.
Edward F. Calvin, 79, died in a 2:44 p.m. Friday wreck that also involved a van, a Honda and a semitruck, the State Patrol said.
Andrew H. Stockton, 61, of Daly City, Calif., was taken to Olympic Medical Center, troopers said.
He remained hospitalized in satisfactory condition Saturday, hospital officials said.
The highway was fully or partially blocked for 4½ hours after the crash at milepost 271 near the Longhouse Market & Deli, troopers said.
Following the wreck, Calvin’s Toyota pickup burst into flames.
Steve Johnson — an employee at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center, located near the wreck site — did not witness the crash but arrived shortly thereafter.
The pickup was “completely engulfed when I got up there,” Johnson said Saturday.
“It was bad. I have never seen a car burn like that — all the red flames and everything. There was black smoke billowing.
“I know the black smoke was from the tires, but I never knew a car could burn like that.”
The flames “must have been 8 or 9 feet in the air,” Johnson said.
How it began
Calvin was traveling east when his white 2001 Toyota Tundra crossed the centerline and hit a 2003 Ford E250 Econoline van being driven westbound by Stockton, the State Patrol said.
Calvin’s pickup rotated in the westbound lane and was struck by a 2011 Peterbilt semitruck driven by Allen R. Ludlow, 38, of Camas.
That pushed Calvin’s pickup back into the eastbound lane, where it was hit by a Honda four-door driven by Susan M. Turpen, 53, of Bainbridge Island.
Calvin’s pickup caught fire and came to rest in the eastbound ditch, the State Patrol said.
Turpen’s car came to rest against the pickup and also caught fire, troopers said.
Stockton’s van ended up in the westbound ditch, while the semi came to rest in the westbound lane.
“There was still a guy stuck in the white van when I got there,” Johnson said.
“They were trying to get him out.”
Ludlow and Turpen were not hurt, the State Patrol said.
Also not injured were Stockton’s passenger, Sarah E. Stockton, 56, of Daly City, and Turpen’s passenger, Rosemarie I. Torres, 51, of Suquamish.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.