Sequim man dies in East Port Angeles wreck
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, December 13, 2023
A Sequim man was injured and later died at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Silverdale after a two-vehicle collision at U.S. Highway 101 and Monroe Road in Port Angeles on Dec. 7, according to a Washington State Patrol report.
The incident began at 9:30 a.m. when a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Philip M. LaCroix, 79, of Sequim was eastbound on U.S. Highway 101 approaching Monroe Road.
A 2020 Chrysler Pacifica van driven by Alexandra E. Zuzich, 31, of Port Angeles was eastbound on U.S. Highway 101 approaching Monroe Road and was slowing to make a right turn, the memo said.
LaCroix failed to stop and his Silverado collided into the back of Zuzich’s Pacifica.
The Pacifica came to rest on Monroe Road facing the wrong way.
The Silverado continued eastbound, left the roadway near North Brook Avenue, crossed all lanes of travel and came to rest blocking the right lane of westbound U.S. Highway 101 facing the wrong way.
LaCroix and Zuzich both were initially taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles with unspecified injuries. Both were wearing seatbelts.
A 4-year-old girl who was a passenger in the Pacifica was taken to Olympic Medical Center as a precautionary measure, the memo said. A 14-month-old boy who also was a Pacifica passenger was not injured. Both were in appropriate child seats, according to the memo.
According to OMC spokeswoman Bobby Beeman on Dec. 7, LaCroix was stabilized and transferred to another hospital and Zuzich was treated and discharged.
A State Patrol memo updated on Dec. 8 indicated LaCroix died at St. Michael’s.
Both vehicles had reportable damage and both were impounded. Traffic was reportedly backed up until about noon as far as the top of the Morse Creek grade, tying up westbound traffic on the highway for more than two hours, according to the State Patrol incident memo.
Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies assisted with traffic control on Monroe Road, Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy wrote in an email.
State Department of Ecology investigators examined the area where the pickup truck crashed but didn’t report any negative impacts to Lees Creek, DOE Communications Manager Mugdha Flores wrote in a Dec. 7 email.
