Suspected drunken driver, wife suffer serious injuries in crash on WSP property

BURLINGTON -- A suspected drunken driver plowed through a stop sign and crashed onto property owned by the Washington State Patrol early Wednesday morning in Burlington, state troopers said.

A 49-year-old man was traveling with his wife in a 1992 Honda Accord southbound on State Route 11 at 1 a.m. Wednesday. According to the Washington State Patrol, the man accidentally turned onto State Patrol Drive in Burlington, hit a stop sign, struck a gate and continued on until he hit a second sign. The Honda finally stopped on the grass in front of a WSP office building.

Troopers on the scene said both the passenger and driver were seriously injured in the crash and transported to Skagit Valley Hospital. Their condition was unknown Wednesday morning.

Troopers believe both speed and alcohol contributed to the wreck. WSP Troopers stationed in Burlington said this was the second time in less than a year a drunken driver has crashed on their property.