QUILCENE — Investigations were continuing Monday into the causes of two wrecks involving motorcycles that led to three fatalities last weekend, said Trooper Russ Winger, State Patrol spokesman.
Traffic on U.S. Highway 101 was blocked for more than seven hours after the 3:25 p.m. Sunday wreck about 5 miles south of Quilcene that left one motorcyclist dead and hospitalized another.
Nicholas Montague, a 26-year-old Lacey man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rodney T. Sutherland, 45, of Port Hadlock was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
On Monday, he was listed in serious condition and was in intensive care at the hospital.
Montague had been headed north toward Quilcene when his 2006 Suzuki motorcycle crossed the center line as he approached a right curve and collided with Sutherland’s 2012 Harley Davidson, which was traveling south, the State Patrol said.
Traffic was reopened in both directions at about 10:30 p.m., the state Department of Transportation said.
The investigation was expected to take several days to complete, Winger said.
The wreck was the second in the area involving motorcycles that claimed lives last weekend.
Michael Hanson, 48, of Graham and his passenger, Connie Shook, 50, of Spanaway were pronounced dead after a 12:05 p.m. Saturday collision with a car on U.S. Highway 101 north of Shelton.
A silver Nissan Murano driven by Leonard Vohs of Burns, Ore., was heading north 4 miles south of the Jefferson County line when it crossed the center line and collided with Hanson’s 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle, the State patrol said.
Both motorcycle riders were ejected, the State Patrol said.
Vohs suffered minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital, the State Patrol said.
The cause of the wreck was improper lane travel, the State Patrol said, adding that a charge against Vohs is being investigated.
After Sunday’s wreck, a witness — Jim Watson of Brinnon — said that Sutherland was conscious before he was transported to Seattle.
Watson was traveling south toward Brinnon but was on the north side of the wreck so he was unable to get home.
Traffic piled up quickly after the wreck, he said.
There were about 100 cars on either side of the site, with people heading north to Poulsbo and south to Hoodsport who could not pass, Watson said.
Several people turned around and said that they would take the long way around through Bremerton to reach their destinations, said Watson, who got a lift home and returned after 10 p.m. for his car.
Winger said that speed and conditions would be taken into consideration in the State Patrol’s final report on Sunday’s wreck.
All people in the two wrecks were wearing helmets and seat belts as required, the State Patrol said.
The vehicles in the Sunday wreck were completely destroyed, while those in the Saturday wreck had reportable damage, the State Patrol said.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
