One woman died and four others were hospitalized Tuesday night after a suspected drunk driver crossed the center line near N.E. 120th Street on Juanita Drive in Kirkland and struck a car head on. The accident occurred around 8:45 p.m. near Fire Station 25.

“The collision is being investigated as DUI-related based on reports from witnesses and information obtained at the scene,” said Kirkland Police Lt. Mike Murray Tuesday night. “The Kirkland Police Department’s Traffic Fatality Team is conducting the investigation.”

The at-fault driver has been identified as Kelly Hudson, 41.

“Hudson exhibited signs of intoxication at the scene and was booked into the King County Jail for vehicular homicide after her release from the hospital, “ said Murray. “Just prior to the collision, Kirkland Police Dispatch was taking a 911 call from a witness following Hudson’s vehicle on Juanita Drive and describing her driving as a ‘possible drunk driver.’ The Dispatch center was still on the line with this witness when the collision occurred.”

Bothell resident Tom Kamm told the Reporter that his father Arthur Kamm of Bellevue was the driver of the sedan and it was his 79-year-old aunt, Kirkland resident Joyce Parsons who died in the crash.

“They were out on the Argosy (Cruise) and I think he was taking her home,” said Kamm, who awakened Wednesday morning by a phone call from Harborview Medical Center. “It is a surreal morning.”

Kamm said that his father is currently in the ICU at Harborview with internal bleeding and other injuries.

The victim’s car, a small sedan, was so badly damaged that Kirkland Firefighters had to cut all four passengers out of the vehicle. A female in that car was pronounced dead at the scene. The other three passengers were transported to area hospitals.

Juanita Drive was closed for several hours, at 76th Place N.E. heading south and N.E. 120th Street heading north, following the crash.