A 17-year-old Oak Harbor girl is dead, her twin sister is in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center and Hospital in Seattle and another young woman is in the hospital following an accident near Anacortes Thursday, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Janeah Goheen died at the scene of the accident; her sister, Janesah Goheen, is in the intensive care unit, according to Kellie Tormey, communication coordinator for the Oak Harbor School District.
“Everybody here is deeply saddened,” Tormey said.
“It’s really a shocking loss to this community.”
Alysha Pickler, 18, of Oak Harbor, was also injured in the accident and transported to Island Hospital in Anacortes for treatment.
Oak Harbor resident Ira Blackstock, 53, was arrested and booked into Skagit County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Washington State Patrol reports that Blackstock was driving a 2006 Ford Mustang south on State Highway 20 and lost control at the curve at the intersection with Miller and Gibralter roads.
The Mustang crossed the centerline and struck an oncoming 1993 Acura Vigor, which Janesah Goheen was driving.
Both vehicles came to rest in the grass on the east side of the highway.
Janesah Goheen, the driver of the Acura, was seriously injured and transported to Harborview in critical condition, the State Patrol reported.
Janeah Goheen, the back-seat passenger, was declared dead at the scene. Pickler was in the front passenger seat.
Blackstock was injured and transported to Island Hospital.
He was arrested after he was treated and released, Trooper Norm Larsen said.
Larsen said “possible impairment” may be a factor in the crash, but the cause is under investigation.
Tormey said Janeah and Janesah were former students at HomeConnections, the home-school program, and Oak Harbor High School.
Neither were attending the high school this year, but they have many friends there.
Tormey said a crisis response team was at the high school Friday and will return Monday.
Counselors will meet with students and staff members on a one-on-one basis, as needed.
She said a fund is being created for the family at Whidbey Island Bank.
