A 31-year-old Hoquiam man who attempted to flee from a traffic stop was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after crashing into a tree off State Route 12 about 4 miles east of Montesano on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The driver of a 2011 Kia Soul was stopped for expired license tabs and had outstanding warrants, according to the State Patrol statement. He fled from the traffic stop “at a high rate of speed just east of the Monte-Brady Road exit” and was traveling eastbound at 109 mph when he left the roadway and struck a tree. The State Department of Transportation reports the crash occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m.

Traffic on the highway was backed up for several hours after the crash. The eastbound lanes were reopened about 5 p.m., according to State Trooper Chelsea Hodgson, but the westbound lanes and the ramp from Monte-Brady Road to the highway were closed until 8 p.m.

The driver’s condition was not released.