Motorcyclist out of intensive care after crash into Capital Lakefair float trailer

A motorcyclist who crashed into a Capital Lakefair trailer on Saturday is out of the intensive care unit and in satisfactory condition, a spokeswoman for Harborview Medical Center said Monday.

The 43-year-old Port Angeles man was flown to Harborview in Seattle late Saturday. The crash closed both lanes of US 101 on Hood Canal for more than five hours, according to the Washington State Patrol.

About 3:35 p.m. Saturday, the State Patrol says the Port Angeles man was northbound on US 101, four miles south of Quilcene, when he allegedly crossed the center line and crashed into a Dodge Ram pickup that was hauling the Capital Lakefair trailer. The trailer contained a parade float used by the organization at various fairs and festivals.

Upon impact, the man was ejected from his motorcycle and wound up in the road. Meanwhile, the pickup swerved and crashed into a northbound ditch. The pickup driver was not hurt, but Lakefair President Karen Adams Griggs said he was shaken by the experience. The driver also had a passenger who was not hurt.

Griggs said the parade float was returning to Olympia after participating in the Sequim Irrigation Festival, which took place Saturday.

An arch over the float and the front of it were damaged in the crash, Griggs said. She said she would know more Tuesday when the float will be towed back to the area.

Capital Lakefair is an annual five-day celebration in July that includes a parade, fireworks and a carnival set up in Heritage Park along Capitol Lake in downtown Olympia.

Lakefair also provides scholarships to high school girls who compete to be Lakefair queen and serve on the royal court. Once selected, the group travels throughout the state to appear at other parades.

The crash is under investigation.

This story was originally published May 14, 2018 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Motorcyclist out of intensive care after crash into Capital Lakefair float trailer."