Olympia man dies in wreck near Brinnon

Published 12:01 am Sunday, March 9, 2014

BRINNON — An Olympia man died when the pickup truck he was driving on U.S. Highway 101 south of Brinnon left the road, swerved across the highway and struck a tree.

James Allen Keith, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene after the 11:30 p.m. Thursday wreck, the State Patrol said, adding that he was not wearing a seat belt.

He was headed south on Highway 101 in a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck near the intersection of Pleasant Harbor Road when the truck went into a roadside ditch, the State Patrol said.

He swerved to the right to come out of it; his truck crossed the centerline, went over an embankment on the northbound side and struck a tree, troopers said.

The truck was destroyed.

Highway 101 was blocked for a little more than four hours while troopers investigated the wreck.

The State Patrol continues to investigate why Keith’s truck left the road.

________

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.