A 59-year-old male driving a 2008 Mazda CX-9 at a high rate of speed westbound on Kent Kangley Road March 15 near Ravensdale ran his car head-on into a tree.

The crash occurred at 6 p.m. west of Ravensdale in the 26200 block where the speed limit increases to 45 mph from 35 mph.

The vehicle hit the tree as the man attempted to make the first bend in the road that veers to the left. As the driver attempted to slow down, his vehicle left skid marks about 150 feet long on the pavement before hitting the tree according to King County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul George.

The impact knocked the spare tire in the back of the vehicle 25 feet across the street into the bushes.

According to Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesman for the sheriff’s department, the driver was airlifted to Harborview in critical condition.

Kent Kangley was closed until about 9:30 p.m. March 15.