3 dead after wrong-way crash on SR-503 near Battle Ground

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An overnight crash on State Road 503 in Southwest Washington has left three people dead and one person in the hospital, authorities said. The crash occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday morning on SR-503 near milepost 6 just south of Battle Ground, according to Washington State Patrol. The crash occurred when a car traveled the wrong way, going northbound in the southbound lanes of SR-503, and struck another car head-on. Two occupants of the wrong-way vehicle died as a result of the crash, including the driver and a passenger, neither of whom was wearing seatbelts, troopers said. The passenger in the other vehicle, a 27-year-old Vancouver woman, also died. The driver of that vehicle, a 27-year-old Vancouver man, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries and in critical condition. Both of the occupants were wearing their seatbelts, officials said. The names of the victims won't be released until after next of kin are notified, a Washington State Patrol spokesperson told KOIN 6 News. The crash, which occurred just north of 179th Street, resulted in damaged vehicles blocking SR-503 southbound. That portion of the highway was closed for several hours while an investigation took place, Battle Ground police said. The road has since been cleared and traffic is now flowing. WSP said the crash remains an active investigation.