School bus driver who died was ‘respected' elder to Quileute tribe
State Patrol Trooper Eric Tilton directs traffic on state Highway 110 around school bus that ran off the road when its driver suffered a “medical event.” -- Photo by Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News
By Arwyn Rice
Peninsula Daily News
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LAPUSH — A Tulalip tribal elder died at the wheel of the Quileute Tribal School bus he drove as he was on his way to pick up students early Monday morning.
Lloyd Hatch of LaPush was 63.
Trooper Russ Winger, spokesman for the State Patrol, said the investigating officers believe that Hatch experienced a “medical event” while driving the bus.
There were no students in the bus at the time, he said.
The cause of death was not immediately known, Winger said.
“He was transported to Forks Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead,” Winger said.
Hatch was “a respected elder and a dedicated member of our community,” the Quileute Tribal Council said in a prepared statement.
“The Quileute Tribal Council sends our deepest condolences to the Hatch family.”
The council offered no additional information about Hatch and added: “Our main focus is surrounding his family with support and praying for their well-being during this difficult time.”
Hatch was found in the yellow Bluebird bus at 6:24 a.m. on state Highway 110 at Milepost 7, Winger said.
The vehicle was pulled to the shoulder and had rolled into the ditch, said Trooper Eric Tilton.
Passing motorists attempted to revive Hatch using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and phone emergency dispatchers for help, Tilton said.
State Patrol troopers are investigating the death as a non-traffic fatality, he said.
The school bus was not damaged and was removed from the scene by Quileute Tribal School personnel.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: January 24. 2012 5:44PM
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