Montesano woman killed in Monday afternoon crash

A Montesano woman was killed in a crash three miles west of McCleary that blocked traffic for nearly five hours Monday afternoon.

The crash was reported at 1:41 p.m. involving the driver of a 2006 Honda CRV and a 1997 Mercury Sable in the eastbound lanes of state Route 8 near McKnight Road, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The two vehicles were driving side by side when the driver of the Honda, 32-year-old Jared C. Liening of Grayland, changed lanes and hit the driver's side of the Mercury.

The Mercury went off the road to the right and crashed into a tree, finally coming to rest in Wildcat Creek.

The Honda went off the road to the left, hitting a cable barrier before crossing both lanes of SR 8 onto the southbound shoulder, stopping 30 feet off the road.

The driver of the Mercury, Karen L. Sawyer, 60, of Montesano, died at the scene. Her passenger, Sheila J. Hamilton, 47, of Elma, was injured and taken by ambulance to Capitol Medical Center in Olympia.

Liening was injured and taken to Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Charges are pending.