Two from Aberdeen killed in car vs. snow plow wreck Sunday morning

US 12 completely closed just west of Montesano for seven hours

March 5, 2018 7:00 pm
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL Photo The Department of Transportation truck that was spreading sand and salt before it was involved in a collision that resulted in the death of two Aberdeen residents on State Route 12 just west of Montesano early Sunday morning.
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL Photo The Department of Transportation truck that was spreading sand and salt before it was involved in a collision that resulted in the death of two Aberdeen residents on State Route 12 just west of Montesano early Sunday morning.

The Daily World

Two Aberdeen residents died early Sunday morning when their 1991 Acura collided with a state Department of Transportation snow plow/dump truck on Highway 12 about a mile west of Montesano, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The driver of the Acura, Michael William Crow, 36, and passenger Michelle Ann Sorensen, 38, were killed. Passenger Hannah Elayn Goedker, 29, of Aberdeen, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where she was listed in “satisfactory” condition Monday afternoon. Another passenger, a 28-year-old Hoquiam man, was also injured and transported to Tacoma General Hospital, according to the report.

According to the investigation, the Acura and International 7000 snow plow dump truck were traveling west around mile post 9, about a mile west of Montesano at the west end of the Devonshire Road on- and off-ramps. Initial reports said the driver of the dump truck, Michael James Lunceford, 50, of Montesano, attempted to make a u-turn across the highway. The Acura struck the driver’s side of the truck and came to a stop on the spot. Monday, conflicting witness accounts were being investigated.

“We do know it appears from the outside anyway he (Lunceford) was in the right lane of the two lanes and was slowing down,” said Trooper Randy Hullinger. “There are conflicting stories whether this was a u-turn or a lane change.”

Hullinger said the conditions were foggy at the time of the accident and temperatures were near freezing.

“The truck was applying salt and sand, so it was either freezing or they were anticipating it to freeze,” said Hullinger.

Claudia Bingham Baker, Department of Transportation Olympic Region communication manager, said the department has no comment or statement as of midday Monday other than they are working together with the State Patrol in the investigation.

The investigation fully blocked the highway for about seven hours. The driver and passengers in the Acura were not wearing seatbelts, according to the report. The driver of the truck was not injured. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, the conclusion of which could be several months away.

“We have witnesses we have spoken to, roadway evidence, a lot of things to look at to come up with a final explanation,” said Hullinger. He said their major accident team is known as MAT, “and they are the ones who deal with the worst of the worst collisions. Whenever you have a MAT case they look at everything and absolutely anything to do with this collision. They take a long time; it may be several months before they issue a final report.”