by BRIAN GAWLEY
Sequim Gazette

Two Sequim residents escaped serious injury Saturday Dec. 12 in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 101 two miles east of Port Angeles that killed two Peninsula College students from China and injured a third.

A pilot car guided traffic around the wreck for more than two hours until the roadway was cleared.
According to the Washington State Patrol, a Ford Escort driven by Chi-Kan Cheung, 21, Port Angeles was westbound in the Morse Creek area of U.S. Highway 101 about 10 p.m. Saturday. A Ford Focus driven by Douglas L. Krocker, 43, Sequim was eastbound.

The Escort crossed the double yellow centerline and one lane of eastbound Highway 101, rotated sideways and slammed into the oncoming Focus on the driver’s side.

Chi-Kan Cheung was declared dead at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt.

A passenger in the Escort, 21-year-old Duo Li of Port Angeles also was declared dead at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt.

Another Escort passenger, 20-year-old Ho P. Ng of Port Angeles was listed in satisfactory condition Sunday afternoon at Olympic Medical Center with rib and chest injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt.

All three were Chinese citizens studying at Peninsula College.

Krocker, 43, was treated at Olympic Medical Center for soreness and released. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Cherie A. Krocker, 44, Sequim, a passenger in the Focus, was treated at Olympic Medical Center for a sore chest and released. She was wearing a seatbelt.

The Washington State Patrol collision memo listed the cause as speed too fast for conditions and said drugs or alcohol were not involved.

Both cars were totalled and impounded. No citations were issued or charges filed.