STATE PATROL PHOTO

A head-on collision on Interstate 90 near Preston as sent two drivers to the hospital.

A head-on collision on Interstate 90 near Preston has sent two drivers to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the State Patrol.

The accident, just after 12:30 p.m., closed two of three westbound lanes of the freeway for 2 1/2 hours today.

According to the State Patrol, an eastbound silver 2001 Acura drove over the dirt median between the eastbound and westbound lanes and continued into the westbound lanes going in the wrong direction. To avoid colliding with a semi truck, the Acura swerved and hit a gray 2006 Honda Civic.

The State Patrol identified the drivers as a 53-year-old Newcastle woman, who was driving the Acura, a 29-year-old North Bend woman in the Civic.

The State Patrol said alcohol is believed to have played a role in the accident.

UPDATE, DEC. 16:
A spokeswoman at Harborview Medical Center said today (Wednesday) that the 24-year-old woman is listed in critical condition and the 53-year-old woman is in serious condition. Both women are in the intensive care unit.