A 60-year-old Graham man died after what investigators describe as a medical emergency sent his car off State Route 7 and into a stand of trees in the Elk Plain area of Pierce County. Troopers say the driver was taken to MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital after the Saturday crash and died the following day.
Washington State Patrol identified the driver as Mark A. Clemons, 60, of Graham. Investigators said he had been heading north on State Route 7 when his vehicle left the roadway, struck multiple trees and came to rest in an embankment, according to The News Tribune. Troopers transported Clemons to Tacoma General, where the State Patrol reported he died on Sunday. Officials have attributed the crash to a medical emergency and said there was no immediate indication of criminal behavior.
Trooper Kameron Watts wrote on social media that first responders initially found Clemons unresponsive and that crews had to extricate him from the vehicle before he became responsive and was treated at the hospital, as reported by Yahoo News. The State Patrol said traffic in the area slowed for roughly 25 minutes while crews worked at the scene.
What Officials Are Saying and What To Remember
Washington State Patrol investigators handling the collision report say the wreck appears to have stemmed from a medical event, not from another driver's actions. Local responders are using the incident as a reminder that a sudden health crisis behind the wheel can turn an otherwise routine trip into a life-threatening emergency.
They urge anyone who sees a driver who appears incapacitated to slow down, keep a safe distance and call 911 so trained crews can respond. Giving emergency vehicles room to work, they add, is one of the quickest ways the public can help when something goes wrong on the road.
