The state patrol responded to a fatal collision that took the life of an 84-year-old man and injured his wife at the intersection of state route 164 at SE 196th street near Enumclaw at about 3 p.m. Friday, June 18.

Troopers and medical personnel at the scene reported the 84-year-old man attempted to drive his vehicle across state Route 164 from SE 196th street northbound. The man apparently failed to stop or slow for the posted stop sign and pulled out directly into the path of an eastbound Ford Explorer driven by a 42-year-old woman from Enumclaw. Witnesses said the woman was traveling near the posted speed limit of 55 mph at the time of the collision and had no chance to avoid the collision.

The resulting broad side collision instantly killed the man and seriously injured his 83-year-old passenger and wife, who was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center where her condition is currently unknown.

Two other women passengers in the Explorer were also injured in the collision. A 62-year-old woman was transported for head and chest pain and a 55-year-old woman for minor back pain. Both were treated at Auburn Regional Medical Center.

The fatal collision snarled traffic for about four hours as spectators were headed to the “Summer Jam” festival at the Muckleshoot Amphitheatre.