Three cars were involved in a crash on Route 105 near Westport Tuesday afternoon after a driver drifted out of her lane and struck two oncoming vehicles at a high rate of speed.

The driver of the vehicle which struck the other two vehicles, a 77-year-old Colorado woman, was transported for further medical care along with one of the other drivers.

Inclement weather played a role in the crash, said Westport Police Chief Nate Saunders. Westport police assisted Washington State Patrol in responding to the incident.

“Three cars — one of them left the roadway because of the hail conditions,” Saunders said. “The sun was shining and it reflected the hail.”

According to responding troopers, Nelson was driving 40 to 50 mph, said Trooper Katherine Weatherwax — not ordinarily excessive, but too fast for conditions.

“If the weather’s weird, slow down. Drive the speed that’s reasonable and prudent. Just because the speed limit’s hypothetically 35 or 45 or 55 doesn’t mean we need to use the full speed limit up,” Saunders said. “So you make it there a couple minutes later. Whatever’s there is still gonna be open. If you’re coming into the city of Westport, we’re still gonna be here.”

The Colorado woman suffered head injuries as a result of not wearing a seatbelt, Weatherwax said, while the other casualty, a 55-year-old Aberdeen man, suffered some injury to his back and leg.

The three vehicles were towed from the scene, according to the State Patrol report.

“Wear a seatbelt, and in inclement weather slow way down,” Weatherwax said in an email. “If you do not feel comfortable like in cases of hail, pull over.”

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