FORKS – A longtime Forks resident died after he was hit on Forks Avenue near Division Street late this morning.
James K. Gunter, who was known as Harold, was crossing from Forks TrueValue to the other side of U.S. Highway 101, which is Forks Avenue within city limits, when he was hit by a car at about 11:10 a.m., according to Mayor Bryon Monohon.
Gunter was pronounced dead this afternoon at Forks Community Hospital, according to Deputy Brian King of the Clallam County Sheriff Office and a hospital spokeswoman.
King said that the Forks Police Department is the investigating agency.
Forks police administrator Rick Bart declined to comment.
King said investigating officers found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in the fatality.
King said it occurred mid-block, not at the crosswalk at the intersection. It was reported at 11:23 a.m.
“He was not in the crosswalk,” Monohon said.
“He was crossing against traffic.”
Only one vehicle was involved, King said.
Monohon did not know the name of the person who hit Gunter.
Gunter, Monohon said, was in his 70s, although the mayor did not know his exact age.
He was a property manager who owned several rentals, Monohon said.
“He was well-known,” the mayor said.
Monohon also said that a member of the Forks Police Department has seen a video tape from a surveillance camera that recorded the collision.
A little more than a month ago, another Forks pedestrian died of injuries after she was hit in the crosswalk of the intersection of Blackberry Avenue and East Division Street on Dec. 6.
Mary Beth Carlill, 50, a prekindergarten teacher at Forks Elementary School, died at Forks Community Hospital after she was hit by a car driven by Joani Foster, 84, of Forks on Dec. 6.
The State Patrol was doing an accident investigation on that case, said Rod Fleck, city attorney, adding he has not seen a final report.
