Washington State Patrol (WSP) say they were dispatched about 12:45am this morning, October 7th, to the scene of a fatal head-on crash in the 300 block of Alger Cain Lake Road in Skagit County. A 62-year-old Ferndale man was killed in the crash when the blue 1998 Mazda Protege car he was driving southbound was struck by a white 2002 Ford Econoline van being driven northbound.
Approximate location of the crash.
The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family. According to the WSP, Eric C Howard of Ferndale was killed in the crash (story updated 10/8/19 at 8am).
According to the WSP, the northbound Ford crossed the centerline and struck the southbound Mazda in the southbound lane. The Mazda then left the roadway and the Ford ended up in the southbound lane.
The Mazda driver was not wearing a seatbelt according to the WSP. The driver of the Ford was wearing a seatbelt and was uninjured. The drivers were the only occupants of their vehicles.
WSP identified the driver of the Ford as Mark Kamphouse, age 31, of Maple Falls. Alcohol and/or drugs are considered contributing factors in the crash according to the WSP and charges were pending as of this 7am morning.