POULSBO — A 14-year-old Poulsbo girl with critical injuries was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center today after being struck by a pickup truck while riding her bicycle on Clear Creek Road.

Sheriff’s patrol, traffic deputies and the Poulsbo Fire Department responded to the 12:40 p.m. collision at the intersection of Clear

Creek Road and Lakeness Road, just north of Poulsbo.

Investigators report the teen was riding northbound on the shoulder of Clear Creek Road. As she arrived at the intersection of Lakeness Road, a witness said she suddenly maneuvered her bike across the northbound lane of travel to make the turn without checking behind her. She was struck by a 2002 Dodge Ram truck, also heading northbound. The driver of the truck, a 76-year-old Poulsbo man, was unable to avoid collision, impacting the bicycle with the truck’s right front fender. The force of the collision knocked the girl off of her bike and into a drainage ditch.

The girl was transported by medic unit to a temporary landing zone at Vinland Elementary School, then transported by an Airlift Northwest helicopter to Harborview Medical Center.

She was not wearing a safety helmet.

The truck driver was uninjured, and the roadway was closed for about an hour.

The investigation into this accident is ongoing. Persons who may have witnessed the collision are asked to contact Deputy Steve Martin, sheriff’s traffic unit, at (360) 337-4634.