Police deem fatal church crosswalk collision an accident

By Matthew Nash • December 9, 2020 1:30 am
Lorraine (Reandeau) Anderson, 89, succumbed to injuries on Nov. 18 after being struck in the crosswalk on Nov. 14 after mass at St. Roman’s Catholic Church. Family members said she had “boundless energy packaged in a petite frame.” Photo courtesy of Debbie Thompson
Lorraine (Reandeau) Anderson, 89, succumbed to injuries on Nov. 18 after being struck in the crosswalk on Nov. 14 after mass at St. Roman’s Catholic Church. Family members said she had “boundless energy packaged in a petite frame.” Photo courtesy of Debbie Thompson

A crosswalk collision that sent two sisters to the hospital and resulted in one’s death won’t result in criminal charges for the driver of the vehicle that struck them, according to the Sequim Police Department.

Sgt. Mike Hill said police officers obtained security footage from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple St., from Nov. 14, showing a vehicle striking sisters Lorraine (Reandeau) Anderson, 89, and JoVonne Lingvall, 87, as they left mass around 5:30 p.m.

Family members confirmed Anderson later died at 3:45 a.m. Nov. 18, at Olympic Medical Center. Lingvall was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for brain bleeding but released with a cracked bone in a leg, family members said.

Hill said officers investigated footage and there “doesn’t appear to be any negligence or recklessness” from the unnamed 41-year-old male driver.

“We were able to do a rough estimate of the speed based on distance traveled based on fixed landmarks and he was traveling at a low and appropriate speed,” Hill said.

Police report the man had his headlights on and hit his brakes prior to the collision to decelerate.

Prior to receiving the footage, Hill said police were determining whether there was a criminal charge or if it was “an unfortunate accident.”

The man was issued a traffic infraction for “failure to yield at a crosswalk,” Hill said.

Where the sisters were struck is one of only a few mid-block crosswalks in the city, he said, and city officials plan discussions with parish administration to improve safety along the street.

About Anderson

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, family members are consulting the church about a potential funeral service. Donations are accepted in Anderson’s name to the Sequim parish at: St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple St., Sequim, WA 98382. Contact the church at 360-683-6076 or sj@clallamcatholic.org for more information.

Anderson is survived by three children Debbie, Mike and Paula. Her son Jim Anderson passed away to cancer in June. She has eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She told others “my grandchildren and (great-grandchildren) are all beautiful and I love each and everyone,” her daughter Debbie Thompson said.

Anderson moved to Sequim around age 8, and spent her married life in Port Angeles as a homemaker with her husband Bill Anderson, who died about 15 years ago. She returned to Sequim as a widow and remained active with family, church and her garden and was described as “spicy,” and “lively.”