Christa Harvey killed; three others badly injured in car crash

An Orcas Island woman died of fatal injuries suffered early Sunday morning when the car in which she was riding struck several trees during a high-speed collision near the intersection of Mount Baker and Terrill Beach roads.

Christa Harvey, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-car crash. Christa, a 2001 graduate of Orcas High School, is the daughter of third grade teacher Sharon Harvey and plumber Ron Harvey.

She and the other three occupants of the vehicle were all employees of Rosario Resort. They were Deane Gates, 27, who was the driver; David Flynn, 34; and Jesse Velikanje, age unknown.

All three were flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. As of Monday, Flynn and Velikanje were listed in satisfactory condition, while Gates was in serious condition, according to a spokesperson with the hospital.

The accident has had a devastating effect on the staff at Rosario, according to Controller Joe March. “It’s a huge blow,” March said. “They have all been great employees. We got to be like family. Everybody is in shock right now.”

Harvey was in the front passenger seat. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, Sheriff Bill Cumming said.

Cumming said the car was traveling northbound on Terrill Beach Road at about 2 a.m. when Gates lost control of the vehicle while attempting to make a sweeping left-hand curve onto Mount Baker Road.

A witness saw the car turn sideways, take out a stop sign, then hit some trees on the passenger side and the rear right bumper. The front wheels of the car went into a pond on the north side of the road before it came to a stop, Cumming said.

The witness checked the vehicle, then summoned help. A sheriff’s deputy was first on the scene, followed shortly thereafter by Emergency Medical Services personnel and firefighters who are trained in extracting crash victims from vehicles, EMS Coordinator Garth Eimers said.

Three Airlift Northwest emergency helicopters were quickly dispatched to the scene -- from Bellingham, Arlington, and Boeing Field. Airlift Northwest has four emergency helicopters serving the entire Puget Sound area.

It was fortunate that three were available at the same time.

The survivors were all taken to Harborview Hospital, western Washington’s trauma center. That they were flown to Harborview is an indication that all were badly hurt, Eimers said.

Rosario staff contacted family members of those who were injured, and March told The Sounder Monday that Davis’ and Flynn’s parents were en route to Seattle on Monday.

Local officers are now investigating the crash to determine its cause.

The Sheriff's office is waiting for test results of blood taken from

the scene to determine if alcohol played a role in the fatal collision. Sheriff Cumming indicated that it would be about two weeks before results of the tests are known.

"It's unfortunate and very sad," Cumming said of the Harvey's death.

"It appears to be a pretty straight forward type of accident."

MEMORIAL SERVICE

There will be a memorial service honoring Christa Harvey Monday, April 12, at 3 p.m. at the Discovery House at Rosario Resort. A reception will follow the service.

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