News

Washington Responder Critically Injured at Scene of Rollover

Sanjay Bhatt

11/20/2011

Nov. 20--A veteran firefighter was struck by a car and injured critically early Sunday after responding to a rollover accident on Interstate 5 in Federal Way.

Wynn Loiland, 52, of Gig Harbor, was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with severe head and facial injuries, a collapsed lung and broken arm, said Deputy Chief Gordie Olson of South King Fire & Rescue.

"This is the most serious injury that we've had happen to any of our firefighters," Olson said.

Loiland's wife and two sons were keeping a vigil at the hospital. Some of his firefighter colleagues went to Harborview to offer them support.

"Right now everybody is doing anything they can to help," Olson said.

The accident happened just before 5:30 a.m. Sunday, minutes after South King Fire & Rescue arrived in response to an earlier rollover accident.

According to the Washington State Patrol, a black pickup traveling southbound on I-5 hit the left barrier and rolled over at about 5 a.m., coming to rest in the right shoulder of the southbound lanes.

South King Fire & Rescue dispatched an engine, which Loiland drove. The roads were treacherous Sunday morning.

"It was a little bit icy and foggy," Olson said. "It was even hard to see the vehicle that they were looking for. They didn't see it until they were right next to it."

The engine arrived on the scene at 5:21 a.m, about a half-mile south of the South 272nd Street onramp, where Military Road South runs under the freeway.

The crew got out and was standing next to the rolled-over vehicle, trying to see if anyone was inside. No one was, as the driver and passenger apparently had already left the scene, according to the State Patrol.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old Burien resident was driving his red Chevrolet Blazer southbound at about 5:28 a.m., when the Blazer skidded out of control and into the shoulder, striking Loiland and narrowly missing another firefighter and a lieutenant, Olson said.

Julie Spartup, a patrol spokeswoman, said slick roads, fog and speed were factors in the collision. No criminal charges were pending, though the investigation was ongoing.

The patrol said it closed the two right southbound lanes from 5:45 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. Sunday.

Loiland joined South King Fire & Rescue in 1981 and was coming up on 31 years of service. He was a great presence and well-liked, Olson said.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com