Brinnon: Victim of fatal crashed remembered as a family man and excellent mechanic

BRINNON — A proud mechanic, a devoted father and energetic grandfather.

That’s how a Brinnon man is being remembered by his family the day after a motorcycle crash took his life.

Michael J. Hockett, 48, died Wednesday evening when his 1984 Harley-Davidson crashed into a car on U.S. Highway 101.

He was attempting to pass a car at the Big Quilcene River bridge while heading home, according to the State Patrol.

But Hockett didn’t have enough room to overtake the car and slammed into an oncoming vehicle, State Patrol Sgt. Ken Przygocki said after the crash.

Hockett died at the scene before emergency crews arrived.

The driver and passenger of the other vehicles were unhurt.

Tight-knit family

His death is a devastating blow to his tight-knit family, his son said Thursday from Brinnon.

“No one can think right now,” son Shawn Paul Houston said. “I guess we’re doing about as good as you can do.”