West End flagger killed in highway construction accident near Brinnon
A State Patrol trooper collects information from the dump truck which ran over a flagger in a paving project on U.S. Highway 101 south of Brinnon. -- Photo by Erik Hidle/Peninsula Daily News
By Erik Hidle, Peninsula Daily News
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The flagger was identified at the scene as Lynette M. Anderson, 49, of Beaver.
According to Washington State Patrol Sgt. Kent Hitchings, Anderson, an employee of Lakeside Industries, was struck by a dump truck belonging to Wood Hawk Inc. of Port Angeles.
The truck was carrying asphalt for the 15-mile paving project in which both were working.
The accident took place around 11:30 a.m. between Mileposts 310 and 311, on U.S. 101 near Canal View Street south of Brinnon.
Hitchings said Anderson was tasked with directing the trucks around the work site and was not directing through traffic.
Truck backing up
"She was walking northbound in the southbound lane [of Highway 101] where a truck was backing up," Hitchings said.
"It can get really loud with all the trucks, and the driver said he didn't see her until he had backed up all the way."
According to Hitchings, Anderson was run over by the truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hitchings said the death appeared to be an accident, but an investigation was ongoing.
One of the few witnesses left at the scene declined to give an interview.
He was driving another dump truck on the construction site when the incident took place.
"It was horrible," said the man, who also declined to be identified.
"I don't want to relive that again."
Highway 101 closed
Washington State Patrol Trooper Krista Hedstrom said Highway 101 traffic was stopped in both lanes beginning around noon with no detours available for through traffic.
One lane of traffic was reopened at 3 p.m.
Backups for northbound traffic were reported to be extensive by the state Department of Transportation.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: June 23. 2008 9:00PM