Clallam County Undersheriff Rich Sill is under investigation for allegedly transporting his adult son from the scene of a motorcycle crash near Sequim before responding law enforcement officers and paramedics could arrive.
State Department of Licensing officials say that Sill’s son has a suspended license and no motorcycle endorsement.
Sheriff Joe Martin confirmed the crash occurred Monday but declined to comment on specifics of the investigation — including who was conducting the investigation.
When asked if the crash or Sill’s actions were the subject of inquiry, Martin replied:
“We’re looking at everything. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Sequim police respond
Sequim Police Chief Robert Spinks said a team of his officers were dispatched about 5:50 p.m. Monday to the 100 block of West Sequim Bay Road to a report of a man covered in blood pushing a motorcycle.
In addition to the Sequim officers, personnel from Clallam County Fire District No. 3 and Olympic Ambulance responded.
But when officers arrived, the man was nowhere to be found.
They searched the road and found the motorcycle — a bike officers had observed being driven erratically earlier that day.
The scene was about 200 yards outside the city limit, and the case was turned over to sheriff’s deputies, Spinks said.
However, it was then learned that Sill had contacted the injured motorcyclist, his 21-year-old son, Jedediah Sill, and was taking him to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, Spinks said.
While driving his son to the hospital, Sill contacted 9-1-1 dispatchers and told them that Jedediah had a broken jaw and he was transporting him.
Flown to Seattle
The younger Sill was then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He underwent nine hours of surgery Wednesday night, Martin said.
He was listed in satisfactory condition Thursday, said Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson.
Undersheriff Sill was unavailable for comment.
Martin said he was staying in Seattle near his son, using vacation days.
