OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Detectives on Whidbey Island say they believe drugs played a role in an accident that killed three people and injured three others on Whidbey Island on Friday night.
Trooper Mark Francis says three decisions - to drive high, distracted and without a seatbelt - have now destroyed the lives of six people.
"The right rear passenger was the only one wearing a seat belt, the other three were ejected," he said.
Police say four friends, including 25-year-old Jacob Quistorf and 26-year-old Francis Malloy, were in a Chevrolet Blazer traveling northbound on SR20 just south of Monkey Hill Road when the woman driving got distracted.
"She was taking off a sweater or sweatshirt at the time, the right front passenger, female passenger, she grabbed the steering wheel and was holding the steering wheel while she was taking off her sweatshirt. Apparently the vehicle crossed over the center line, they both jerked the wheel, overreacted, went over to the right, then they had to overreact and over compensate, steered back to the left, lost control and that's when they came head-on into the husband and wife," said Trooper Francis.
That husband was 33-year-old Brian Wood from Vancouver, BC. His wife Erin, who is 6 months pregnant, survived the crash.
"There's was screaming and crying," said David Morgan, who lives along Highway 20. He was one of the first on the scene.
"The car was on its top, so we all gathered around and pushed it up," he said.
Francis Malloy's friends have put teddy bears and flowers near the crash site.
Malloy worked for his father's diving company and was taking college courses. It is believed his girlfriend was the one at the wheel.
"I was just talking to them two hours before and then you I get a phone call from my mom....it's tough," said friend Don Giddings.
The two women in the front seat are in the hospital under the supervision of police. Once they are released, they will be booked on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
