SEQUIM — A 51-year-old Sequim man died after his car struck a power pole on Old Olympic Highway early Sunday morning, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Greg Valaske, who was driving the car, was found unconscious and entangled in the wreckage before he was extricated by first responders, according to a press release.
Valaske had been traveling eastbound on Old Olympic Highway and left the south side of the roadway, sliding through a front yard before striking a main distribution high voltage power pole.
The pole broke in half, with the top half suspended by the power lines and the car coming to rest on top of part of the pole.
No one else was in the car and alcohol might have been involved in the collision, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Sgt. Randy Pieper said a deputy smelled alcohol at the scene.
Deputies, Sequim police officers, and Fire District No. 3 personnel responded to the crash at 1:05 a.m. in the 7000 block of Old Olympic Highway, north of Sequim.
Crews were on scene for about one-and-a-half hours, he said.
Valaske at one point gained consciousness and was airlifted by Airlift Northwest to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Valaske died of unspecified injuries upon arrival at Harborview, according to the press release.
The power lines still had power when rescue crews removed Valaske from the 2002 Buick, which was a total loss.
The collision knocked out power for about 1,200 Clallam County Public Utility District customers but was restored by about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Michael Howe, PUD communication’s manager, said crews worked through the night to replace the broken power pole.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
