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According to the Washington State Patrol:
Mark A. McKern, 31, was driving a 2002 Hyundai Sonata east in the westbound lanes of the road near Summit Lake Road at around 8:30 p.m.
"They were traveling for multiple miles the wrong way before the first collision occurred," Gill said from the scene Monday night.
McKern's car sideswiped a 2009 Toyota Camry then struck a 2000 Volkswagen Beetle head on.
McKern was injured and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. An 8-month-old girl in his car was not injured, but taken to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma as a precaution.
The child was later released to her mother, Gill said.
The driver of the Toyota, 42-year-old Penny B. Ramstein and the driver of the Volkswagen, 21-year-old Karli A. Stillwell, both of Elma, were injured and taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital.
Troopers believe McKern was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Charges are pending.
ckrotzer@theolympian.com
An Earlier Story:
A man driving the wrong-way down state Route 8 Monday night was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after colliding with two cars, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The man was driving a white Hyundai Elantra east in the westbound lanes of state Route 8 near Summit Lake Shore Road when they side-swiped a blue Toyota Camry, then collided head on with a red Volkswagon Beetle, according to Trooper Guy Gill.
"They were traveling for multiple miles the wrong way before the first collision occurred," Gill said from the scene.
The wrong-way driver was flown to Harborview. The passenger of the Hyundai, an infant girl, was taken by ambulance to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia as a precaution, but the child showed no signs of injury.
The drivers of the Toyota and Volkswagon, both women, were taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. There were no other passengers in either car.
The wrong-way driver is suspected of driving under the influence, Gill said.
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