Photo courtesy of Clallam County Fire Dist. 2.
The Sequim Gazette contributed to this report.
Updated Thursday, May 10, 2012
State Patrol detectives seeking witnesses to motorcycle-patrol car wreck
Washington State Patrol press release, May 10, 2012:
The Washington State Patrol Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) is investigating a sequence of events that started with a trooper pursuit of a motorcycle in Clallam County on Tuesday evening, May 8. Just before 8:00 p.m., state trooper attempted to stop a motorcycle for a traffic violation on US 101 just east of Port Angeles. The driver failed to stop for the trooper and fled north on Deer Park Road with the trooper in pursuit. Approximately six miles later, the motorcyclist failed to negotiate a left hand curve and went over a steep embankment and was killed. The trooper was also unable to stop and went over the bank. The cruiser rolled to the bottom of the embankment and the trooper sustained non-life threatening injuries. He was treated at Olympic Regional Hospital and released.
Detectives are seeking witnesses to the entire event from SR 101 to the crash location. If you saw or heard anything or know someone that did, please call M.A.I.T. Detective Sergeant Jerry Cooper at (360) 805-1192 or Detective Curt Ladines at (360) 805-1160.
Forks Forum report – May 9, 2012
Bjorn Robert Larsen, 35, of Port Angeles, originally from Beaver, died Tuesday evening, May 8 when he drove off Deer Park Road in Port Angeles, about six miles inland from Highway 101 where the pursuit of Larsen by a Washington State Patrol Trooper began.
The Washington State Patrol is reporting that Larsen was going at high speed, about 90 mph, and failed to negotiate a curve. Larsen was driving with a suspended license and was not licensed to drive a motorcycle.
Another former Forks man, Washington State Patrol Trooper Travis Beebe, 37, during pursuit of Larsen six miles up Deer Park Road, rolled the WSP 2011 Ford Crown Victoria he was driving at approximately the same site and at the same time. Beebe was also driving at a high rate of speed. Beebe received minor injuries. He was transported to Olympic Medical Center and released. The WSP reported his patrol car was totaled in the crash.
Troopers estimate the vehicles came to rest 50 feet down an embankment. Beebe broke the back window of his patrol car, which had rolled over and landed on the driver’s side, climbed out and called 9-1-1.
Clallam County Fire District 3 officials said Larsen was found dead upon arrival. Firefighters back boarded him out of the wooded area down the embankment. Beebe, who suffered minor injuries, was transported to Olympic Memorial Hospital for evaluation and later released. His patrol car was totaled and there was extensive damage to the motorcycle, a 1981 Honda CB650.
The WSP is continuing to investigate the crash. The WSP report said it was still unknown Wednesday morning, May 9 if drug or alcohol use by Larsen was a factor in the wreck.
Fire officials said the accident was caused by driving too fast. They encourage people to stop, not run, when they are being pursued by law enforcement.
