By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – A car was still upside down in the deepest bowl of the skate park in Port Angeles Wednesday morning after a driver plowed through the fence along Race Street and plunged into the pit.

PAPD Corporal Bruce Fernie tells us that as of Wednesday morning, no citation had been given to the driver of the vehicle.

“Yesterday the 17th at approximately 8:28 p.m. that vehicle was driven by a 31-year-old male and was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and he drove off the roadway. We believe that he just fell asleep at the wheel. Officers put him through a field sobriety test and spent an extensive time with him to confirm that there wasn’t any signs of impairments, and it appears that he just had fallen asleep.”

Corporal Fernie said the man did not appear to be injured and saw his own way home. It’s still possible the driver could be cited with reckless driving.

As for the car lying upside down in the skate park, Parks and Rec Director Corey Delikat said Wednesday morning they were still working to get a crane operator assigned to lifting the car out.

“Yeah. So, last night there was the option to that a tow truck could go in there and kind of tow it out, but they wanted to wait and make a plan this morning, and make sure that we do it right. And so, the car will actually be lifted out of there and take it over the fence where it’ll then be towed way. Once we get the car remove to see if there’s any damage to the concrete or underneath that, that will determine if and when we’ll have the skate park open or not.”

The chain link fence along Race Street will also need extensive repair.

(Staff photo)