Teens' SUV hits truck; Snohomish boy killed

A 17-year-old Snohomish boy was killed and four people were injured in a head-on collision on Highway 2 between Gold Bar and Index, Snohomish County, on Friday afternoon, according to the State Patrol.

The collision happened at about 2:30 p.m. when a westbound Jeep Cherokee with three 17-year-olds inside — two boys and one girl — crossed the centerline and hit a pickup truck head-on, trooper Kirk Rudeen said.

One of the 17-year-old boys was killed, the teen girl was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center and the driver of the Jeep was transported to a hospital in Everett, Rudeen said.

The teens were returning from a ski trip to Stevens Pass, he said.

The 61-year-old driver of the pickup truck and his 52-year-old wife, both from Mount Vernon, were injured and transported to a hospital in Monroe, Rudeen said.

Troopers aren't sure what caused the Jeep to cross the centerline, Rudeen said.

"At this point, alcohol or drugs are not a factor. Speed does not appear to have been a factor," he said.

Troopers closed both lanes of the highway for about 90 minutes following the collision. One lane later reopened, with troopers guiding traffic through as the crash investigation continued. The road fully reopened about 7:30 p.m.

The name of the deceased teen has not been released, pending the notification of his family.

Brian Alexander: 206-464-2026

or balexander@seattletimes.com