SEQUIM — A Sequim police officer was identified late Sunday night as the person killed in an off-duty, head-on motorcycle crash between Forks and Clallam Bay earlier in the day.
Kathrene “Kathy” Barr, 27, a full-time officer since last September, was riding her 2004 Yamaha motorcycle northbound on state Highway 113 with a small group of friends about 3:30 p.m. when her motorcycle failed to negotiate a right curve, said Washington State Patrol spokesman Brian George.
The motorcycle crossed the centerline and struck the right-front bumper of a southbound 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck that was towing a boat trailer, George said.
The crash, which occurred about eight miles north of U.S. Highway 101, did not cause any injuries to the truck’s driver — Frank Furtado of Southworth — or its two passengers, Lahainaluna Furtado and Lenny Sensun of Lacey.
Barr, who was known by her maiden name instead of her legal surname of Edelberg from a former marriage, was pronounced dead at the scene by a deputy coroner.
Moment of silence
On Monday, Sequim Mayor Walter Schubert opened a City Council meeting with a moment of silence for Barr as well as for Clallam County Assessor Linda Owings-Rosenburgh, who committed suicide last week.
Sequim police officials mourned their colleague.
“Kathy was an exceptional city employee, and I share the beliefs of other community leaders and citizens that this is a huge loss to the city and the Barr family,” said Bill Elliott, city manager.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Barr family and to the men and women of the Police Department.”
Barr had been a reserve officer since September 2002 and was hired full-time two years later.
She was the Sequim department’s first school resource officer.
“Kathy always had a positive attitude and was thrilled with her assignment working with the schools,” said police Sgt. Sheri Crain.
“Trying to fill the shoes of Kathy will be an extremely daunting task.”
Police Chief Robert Spinks had to break the news to his officers on Monday.
“We spend a lot of time working with crime victims and seeing this kind of loss in our professional capacity,” Spinks said.
“But when it involves one of your own, it is obviously a traumatic loss to the department and the community.
“Kathy was unique in being just the right fit for an officer working in the schools — she was breathing life into that program.”
