BRINNON — Andrew Boling, 21, of Brinnon — the brother of a man who says tribal police unlawfully detained him while hunting Saturday — died Tuesday night in a single-car wreck when his truck left the roadway and struck a telephone guide pole and two trees.
Adam Boling, 28, said Wednesday that his brother’s death devastated his family.
“Everybody is torn up right now,” he said. “He was way too nice of a guy to have this happen to him.”
Adam Boling, one of three men detained by Port Gamble S’Klallam tribal police while hunting Saturday near Brinnon, has filed a complaint with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office that he and the others were unlawfully detained.
His brother, Andrew, was not in the hunting party. The wreck is not thought to be related to Saturday’s incident.
Mr. Boling was traveling northbound along U.S. Highway 101 at 10:15 p.m., about 1.5 miles south of Brinnon, in a 1993 Ford F-250 pickup truck, when the pickup left the road to the right, struck a telephone guide pole, traveled down an embankment and struck two trees.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No other people were hurt in the crash, and no other vehicles were involved.
Mr. Boling is survived by his mother, Janet Boling, 50, of Brinnon, and his father, Steve Boling, 55, of Lexington, Ky.
He is also survived by his brothers, Adam Boling, Philip Boling, 29, Jason Boling, 26; and his sister, Melissa Boling, 23. All live in Brinnon.
‘Little buddy’
Adam Boling described his brother as “his little buddy,” who was beloved by the entire family.
“He wanted to be just like his brothers,” he said. “We grew up together, all worked in the woods together. We cut timber together.
“He loved to go hunting and fishing and anything involving the outdoors.
“That was our family, we were out hunting and fishing all the time.”
Mr. Boling was born Aug. 19, 1988 in Jefferson County.
He attended Quilcene High School and lived in the county his entire life.
At the time of his death, Mr. Boling worked as a contract landscaper.
Funeral arrangements had not been finalized Wednesday.
“We still just can’t believe it,” Adam Boling said. “I don’t think anyone believes it’s real yet.”
The State Patrol said in its report that alcohol was suspected to have played a role in the crash. Trooper Krista Hedstrom, State Patrol spokeswoman, said Wednesday that toxicology tests were in progress, and that Mr. Boling’s blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was not known.
The State Patrol also said that Mr. Boling was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsula dailynews.com.