A near head-on collision was avoided after a 17-year-old driver took what authorities call an “evasive action” and ended up in a ditch instead along Chico Way NW.

Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies and Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue shut down the road near the 6100 block after a driver suffering a medical emergency swerved into oncoming traffic and hit another car.

The Honda sideswiped the Toyota carrying the 17-year-old, pushing it down an embankment before both vehicles came to a stop.

A male, age 34, from Central Kitsap was transported by CKF&R medic unit to Harrison Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries after his car heading southbound swerved into the lane of the 1999 Toyota Camry.

Each driver was traveling alone at the time of the accident.

The accident slowed down commuters who trek the road along Dyes Inlet around 3:45 on Thursday afternoon.

Both Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue medics and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene minutes later. A call for a second medic was canceled.

Any violation of motor vehicle codes or rules of the road are still to be determined by investigating traffic deputy, according to Kitsap County Sheriff’s Deputy Spokesman Scott Wilson.