A Montesano woman was cited by the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office after a motor vehicle crash that resulted in a train striking the car she was driving on Oct. 2.

The crash occurred early last Monday morning, said Undersheriff Kevin Schrader. The first report of the crash occurred when a Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad train headed westbound hit the car, a 2021 Kia sedan, which was on the tracks east of Montesano.

“On Oct. 2, 2023 we were originally dispatched to it at 1:48 in the morning,” Schrader said. “This is after being called by the train engineer after he struck it and dragged it down the railroad tracks.”

The train was undamaged by the crash, said a PSAP spokesperson. The car had hit a utility pole before going through the brush, Schrader said, sheering it off.

“The car appeared to have been traveling eastbound on Monte-Elma Road. It left the road and traveled about 60 yards through dense brush and hit some trees,” Schrader said. “It went airborne and landed on its top.”

Law enforcement personnel immediately began searching for the driver, Schrader said, including calling for drone support from other agencies to check the possibility of the driver having been ejected from the vehicle and lying in a bush somewhere.

“We spent several hours searching the scene for potential victims,” Schrader said.

Sheriff’s deputies found the driver, a 30-year-old Montesano woman, at home as they continued the investigation, Schrader said. The woman was completely uninjured, as a result of wearing her seatbelt, Schrader said.

“The next day, we contacted her at her address,” Schrader said. “She said she swerved to miss a deer. She was ultimately cited for hit and run.”

There was no sign of drugs or alcohol at the crash, Schrader said. The woman was issued a citation for hit and run, Schrader said.

“Don’t leave the scene of the collision. Report it promptly to law enforcement. Wear your seatbelt,” Schrader said.

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.