PORT ANGELES — The motocross community is lamenting the loss of one of its own, a man who died doing what he loved and while leading the race.
Port Angeles resident Mike “Mikie” Procunier, a 29-year-old logger, died Sunday after a crash when he didn’t clear a hill during a competition at the Olympic Peninsula Motorcycle Club track at 1306 Deer Park Road, club President Josh Millar said Monday morning.
Following the mishap at about 2 p.m. Sunday, Procunier was unconscious while being treated by Clallam Fire District No. 2 and Olympic Ambulance personnel before being transported to Olympic Medical Center, Fire Chief Sam Phillips said.
Phillips said Procunier, a Sequim High School graduate, was being treated for a broken arm on the scene before going into cardiac arrest.
He was later pronounced deceased, Olympic Medical Center spokesman Jeff Anderson said.
Procunier was among about 120 racers participating in the Washington state series of the Washington State Motocross Championships before about 50 spectators.
Millar said Procunier was taught to ride by his father, Mike, an auto mechanic and also a motocross enthusiast.
Former club President Tom Hines and Millar said it was the first race fatality in the track’s 78-year history.
“Supposedly, it was one of the last tracks in the country that didn’t have one yet,” Millar said.
It also was the first motocross track fatality in the state of Washington this year, said Ryan Abrigo, who owns the Northwest Racing Association.
Abrigo attended the WA State MX Championships race Sunday that was being held at the OPMC track and was sponsored by the Northwest Racing Association.
The remainder of the Sunday motocross series events were canceled following the mishap, Millar said.
Millar said the motorcycle club will hold a memorial ceremony at the track, although a date has not been set.
“He was definitely integrated into the community, into the motocross community,” Millar said.
“He was such a nice guy, and being such a nice guy, I have been constantly running into people who knew him and are grieving.”
“He loved to ride his dirt bike,” Abrigo said. “He was a very skillful rider.”
Procunier also was a BMX bicycle rider.
“He was a good rider with anything with two wheels,” Abrigo said.
Abrigo said the mishap occurred about 200 feet away from spectators while Procunier competed in the last of 16 races in the Northwest Racing Association series.
Abrigo said the rear wheel of Procunier’s 450cc Yamaha dirt bike appeared to catch on the crest of the third hill before the crash.
“He was out front and leading the race and crashed in front of the riders,” he said.
Millar said Procunier also had won a race at an event last week.
“He rode growing up here,” Millar said.
Procunier was a club board member who had recently turned professional class.
Family members could not be reached for comment Monday.
A gofundme account has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/2pxfw84 to help pay for funeral expenses.
Brian King, Clallam County chief criminal deputy, said the fatality will not be investigated unless circumstances warrant it.
“No crime was involved,” King said.
An autopsy will be conducted, said Mark Nichols, the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney and county coroner.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
