Driver falls asleep, sends 3 Tacoma juveniles to area hospitals, State Patrol says

A drive the day after Christmas did not go well after the driver fell asleep, crashed his SUV and injured three passengers from Tacoma, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The three Tacoma juveniles, ages 5-17, were taken to area hospitals.

About 2:40 p.m. Dec. 26, a 70-year-old man was driving north on state Route 19 at Foster Street in Jefferson County. State Route 19 passes through the Chimacum and Port Hadlock areas.

Troopers say he fell asleep, then drove off the road to the right and crashed into a mailbox and power pole. The vehicle came to a stop down an embankment, according to the State Patrol.

Two girls, ages five and 16, were taken to Jefferson General Hospital, while a 17-year-old male teen was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The 70-year-old man also was hurt and taken to Jefferson General, according to State Patrol. He faces a charge of second-degree negligent driving, troopers say.