The Valley Regional Fire Authority – with assistance of Kent Fire Department – responded to a motor vehicle accident at 3702 W. Valley Highway N., in Auburn on Monday afternoon.

First-arriving units found a two-vehicle, head-on accident involving a one-ton delivery van and a Honda mini van. There were two patients in the mini van who needed special extrication equipment. The driver of the mini van, a 79-year-old Auburn man, was treated by the fire department and Medic 6, then transported to Harborview Medical Center via Airlift Northwest. The passenger of the van, an 83-year-old woman, was extricated and transported to Harborview Medical Center via King County Medics but later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

The van’s driver, a 28-year-old Federal Way man, was released at the scene. The names of the injured parties have not yet been released.

According to Auburn police the van was north bound on the West Valley crossing of the intersection with 37th Street Northwest on a green light when the southbound 2003 Honda, attempting a left turn onto 37th, failed to yield and was hit.

The accident shut down portions of the highway while crews inspected the scene and transported the victims.