Drivers injured in two-car accident on State Route 522 in Kenmore

Jay's Cafe owner Misty Qureshi and her employees didn't hear a thing, but then someone came into the restaurant to inform them of an accident nearby.

When Qureshi and the passerby went outside to see if they could help, the man aided one of the victims while the restaurateur called 911 after a two-car, head-on wreck occurred at about 10:33 a.m. this morning at the 7500 block of Northeast Bothell Way — State Route 522 — in Kenmore.

Qureshi recalled seeing male drivers from each vehicle — one of which was on its side — and "then some customer came and just pulled him out."

Northshore Fire Department public-information officer Wendy Booth said in a press release that witnesses stated that a beige vehicle traveling eastbound on Bothell Way crossed the centerline and struck a westbound black SUV head-on.

Fire personnel used extrication tools to remove occupants from the two vehicles. One occupant was in critical condition and transported to Harborview Hospital, and another occupant was in serious condition and transported to Evergreen Hospital. Two other vehicles were involved, but no additional injuries were reported.

Nancy Morgan of Kenmore was on her way back home from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store when she spoke with the driver of a vehicle that was sideswiped by the beige car during the accident.

"He thought (the beige car) was in the turn lane, but then realized he was coming straight for him," Morgan said. "(He) said that he had to go up and over the median into oncoming traffic and then back on to miss him, but he still sideswiped him."

The King County Major Accident Response and Reconstruction (MARR) unit responded to the scene and its investigation blocked all westbound lanes of traffic on Bothell Way at the 7500 block for approximately three hours.

The Northshore firefighters were assisted by personnel from Shoreline and Bothell fire departments.

Contact Bothell Reporter Reporter Andy Nystrom at editor@bothell-reporter.com or 1-425-483-3732 (ext 5050).

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