SEQUIM — Volunteers from the Sequim Sunrise Rotary and Sequim Food Bank and community members provided a helping hand in building a ramp and finishing yard projects for the Streett family last weekend.
“It’s been overwhelming to see how our community comes together when it’s really needed,” said Shenna Younger, a friend of the Streett family.
The Streetts were involved in a car wreck July 20 while traveling on U.S. Highway 160 in Colorado.
Both Robert Streett, 52, and his son Robby, 16, died of injuries in the wreck while Josslyn, 49, and Sawyer, 14, continue to recuperate from non-life-threatening injuries.
Younger said Robert had a list of 2017 yard projects he wanted to finish and when friends saw the list, Rotary and food bank members and other volunteers showed up at the Streett house to help.
Younger estimates 25 volunteers placed new bark, replanted flower boxes, cleaned and weeded out the front and back yards, put new pavers to make a clear path from the driveway to the backyard, purchased new patio furniture, washed down the deck, finished the second half of a wooden shed and built a ramp for Sawyer.
“It’s incredible to see that happen,” Younger said. “It couldn’t be for anyone more deserving.”
Everything was built and renovated within Robert’s vision, Younger said, and noted the ramp was built in six hours by Jack Tatom, Chris Coolures, Josh Gloor and Rich Bemm — two of the men older than 80 years old.
The ramp was fully funded by Thomas Building Center.
The yard also includes a rock garden with rocks from a candlelight ceremony for the Streetts on July 24 at Carrie Blake Park where people painted a rock with meaning to them for the family.
Younger said she hopes the renovated yard can serve as a retreat for Josslyn and Sawyer when they return home.
Community members had raised more than $39,000 by Wednesday through a GoFundMe campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/street-family-support-fund and a fund remains open at Sequim First Federal branches.
About the wreck
A Colorado State Patrol spokesman said the Streetts were traveling east of the La Plata County line in a 2017 Honda SUV at 5:15 p.m. July 20 when a 2013 Nissan traveling west hydroplaned and crossed the center line, colliding with the Streetts’ vehicle.
Lewis said the Nissan’s driver, 36-year-old Anthony Rodriguez of Mancos, Colo.; Josslyn; and the two teens were transported to a hospital in Durango.
Nanette Penz-Reuter said she was traveling with her family in a rental van directly behind the Streett family before sudden heavy rain led to the wreck.
She said that she and her family saw Rodriguez seem to lose control, hydroplane and cross the center lane into the SUV in front of them.
“The crash was so sudden and impossible to avoid,” Penz-Reuter said. “It’s amazing that no other vehicles were involved in this crash.”
She said there were several medically-trained good Samaritans traveling nearby who helped before first responders arrived.
Trooper Nate Reid, a Colorado State Patrol public information officer, said Tuesday that charges are pending against Rodriquez but did not specify the charges.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
Over last weekend, members from the Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club, Sequim Food Bank and other volunteers built a ramp for Sawyer Streett to be ready for him upon his return home to Sequim. The volunteers also worked over the weekend to complete a list of 2017 yard projects Robert Streett had made to finish.
