Police Believe Driver Who Caused Five-Car Pileup Near Monroe Was Smoking Pot

The crash, between Sultan and Monroe, WA sent eight people to area hospitals.

Monday, the as yet unnamed 25-year-old woman failed to see two cars that were stopped to make a left turn off Highway 2.   The driver is believed to have swerved at into oncoming traffic to avoid the two vehicles.  While no fatalities occurred, so far it's the deadliest, biggest crash in WA since the legalization of marijuana.

The woman struck another vehicle, flipping it on it's top, and a second vehicle also ended up in a ditch, upside down.  12 people were involved, including several children.  Two people were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, a third person was treated in nearby Everett, then transported to Harborview.   A hospital spokesman said a mother and her ten-year-old child were in stable condition, but were moved to Intensive Care as a precaution.

The driver, according to NW Cable News,  has a lengthy court record, has been arrested previously for vehicular assault, and authorities said she's a frequent marijuana smoker.   She is believed to have been smoking pot prior to the crash.

Since pot was legalized,  the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission says driver arrests involving marijuana impairment have risen at least 33%, and are on pace to likely DOUBLE before the end of 2014.