Collision kills former Port Angeles couple, injures two Sequim residents

Family and friends continue to mourn the loss of two Port Angeles natives and pray for smooth recoveries for an injured Sequim couple following a fatal traffic collision earlier this month.

William Neudorfer, 58, and Patricia Neudorfer, 54, of Vancouver, Wash., died about 25 miles west of Longview on Saturday, Aug. 18, when a pickup truck struck their 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Washington State Patrol reports the Neudorfers, formerly of Port Angeles, and Wayne Priest, 56, and Brenda Priest, 56, of Sequim were traveling east on their 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle along State Route 4 through the city of Cathlamet at about 1 p.m. when Branson Myers, 22, of Longview, Wash., crossed the center line in his 2014 Dodge Ram while driving west, striking the two motorcycles.

State Patrol reports the Neudorfers’ motorcycle came to rest in the eastbound guardrail and the Priests’ motorcycle on the westbound shoulder.

Troopers said the Neudorfers died in the collision. The Priests were airlifted to Peace Health Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash.

Medical staff report Wayne is in “satisfactory” condition and Brenda was treated and released from Longview’s PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center.

Jenn Priest, daughter-in-law of Wayne and Brenda, established a gofundme account to help them with medical expenses at www.gofundme.com/pd3usf-help-for-our-family.

Justin and Amber Priest, the Priests’ son and daughter-in-law, said Wayne’s leg requires multiple surgeries and that he may not be able to walk for three-six months.

He also has some broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung and some fractured vertebrae.

They also said Brenda had successful surgery to fix a fractured tibia resulting in her being unable to walk for about three months.

Family and friends

William “Bill” Neudorfer and Brenda Priest are siblings and the two couples were best friends, said Justin and Amber Priest.

“Every big vacation they went on together, like Hawaii,” Justin said.

For their recent trip, Justin and Amber said their parents and uncle and aunt were planning a long ride on their motorcycles, but heavy smoke from forest fires led them to travel mostly along the Oregon coast. They said the couples were planning to fuel up and say their goodbyes in Longview.

William worked at Ferguson Enterprises and Patricia (“Patti”) worked in administration at PeaceHealth in Vancouver, Wa.

The Neudorfers, childhood sweethearts, leave behind two daughters, their husbands, and three grandchildren.

Raised in Port Angeles, they’ve lived in Vancouver at least 30 years, Justin and Amber said.

Funeral arrangements are still being scheduled.

Wayne Priest works at the Port Townsend Paper Corporation and Brenda is a stay-at-home mom, wife and grandma.

Both couples began riding road motorcycles in recent years but have experience on dirt bikes, Justin and Amber said.

Charges

State Patrol Trooper Edward Quintero said the investigation is ongoing and that Myers, who was not injured in the wreck, was charged with second-degree negligent driving, the Chinook Reporter reported.

Quintero said Myers seemed fatigued with a few hours of sleep after a graveyard shift and he was traveling to the Wahkiakum County Fair at the time of the wreck.

State Patrol reports all motorcyclists wore road-approved helmets and Myers was wearing a seatbelt and drugs and alcohol were not involved.

Read more about the Priests and Neudorfers at the gofundme site: www.gofundme.com/pd3usf-help-for-our-family.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Patricia “Patti” and William “Bill” Neudorfer lived in Vancouver, Wash., for about 30 years after being raised in Port Angeles, family members said. The couple was tragically killed by a drowsy driver on Aug. 18 as he went over the center line and struck the Neudorfers on their motorcycle. The truck also struck their family and friends Wayne and Brenda Priest of Sequim on their motorcycle, too. Submitted photo

Patricia “Patti” and William “Bill” Neudorfer lived in Vancouver, Wash., for about 30 years after being raised in Port Angeles, family members said. The couple was tragically killed by a drowsy driver on Aug. 18 as he went over the center line and struck the Neudorfers on their motorcycle. The truck also struck their family and friends Wayne and Brenda Priest of Sequim on their motorcycle, too. Submitted photo

Brenda and Wayne Priest of Sequim continue to recover in Vancouver after their motorcycle was hit by a truck on Aug. 18. Family members said with their injuries, Brenda may not be able to walk for about three months, and Wayne three-six months. Submitted photo

Brenda and Wayne Priest of Sequim continue to recover in Vancouver after their motorcycle was hit by a truck on Aug. 18. Family members said with their injuries, Brenda may not be able to walk for about three months, and Wayne three-six months. Submitted photo