Man dies after car, truck collide on Highway 101 east of Sequim

SEQUIM — An 89-year-old Sequim man involved in a two-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 101 east of Sequim on Sunday morning died at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle late Sunday.

Robert W. Husser was pronounced dead at the Seattle hospital at 11:58 p.m. Relatives were with him at the hospital, State Patrol troopers said.

Troopers said Husser was making a left turn onto the highway from Palo Alto Road in a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier when it and a 1993 GMC pickup truck driven by James I. Gertz, 78, of Port Angeles collided.

Gertz’s truck was traveling eastbound when the truck crashed into Husser’s car at 9:42 a.m. Troopers said Husser apparently pulled out in front of the truck.

Husser was airlifted from the scene to Harborview with head injuries.

Gertz was taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles after the wreck with unknown injuries.

He was later transferred to Harborview, where he was listed in serious condition on Sunday and Monday. A hospital spokeswoman said he was in the intensive care unit on Monday.

The state Department of Transportation closed the two-lane stretch of highway in both directions for about 20 minutes Sunday morning.

Both men were wearing their seat belts and both were driving alone, the State Patrol said.

Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved, troopers said.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

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