A Mukilteo man was airlifted on Tuesday night with critical injuries after a hit-and-run on U.S. Highway 101 near the “Welcome to Sequim” sign just east of city limits.
Lawrence Scherer, 66, of Mukilteo was struck on the westbound lane of the highway near Simdars Road by a white truck traveling westbound, the Washington State Patrol reported.
Battalion Chief Elliott Jones with Clallam County Fire District 3 said the 9-1-1 PenCom dispatch center received a report at 11:05 p.m. Oct. 8 of two men fighting in the highway’s westbound lane.
A few minutes later, a second call reported one of the men (Scherer) had been hit by a vehicle traveling at a high speed.
Jones said Sequim Police Department arrived first, with officers performing CPR before firefighters and paramedics responding to stabilize Scherer, who was critically injured.
Medics coordinated with Life Flight Network to airlift Scherer to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
He was admitted as John Doe to the hospital with no identification, Jones reported.
State Patrol later identified him in a press memo.
Scherer’s condition is unknown at this time, a Harborview spokesperson said Wednesday morning.
Weatherwax said at the time of being airlifted, he was in critical condition.
Trooper Katherine Weatherwax said it’s unclear what Scherer and another unidentified man were fighting over and why they were in the middle of the highway by the elk “Welcome to Sequim” sign.
An off-duty tow truck driver pulled over, called 9-1-1 and recorded the altercation, she said.
Law enforcement has not seen the second person, and believe he got into a vehicle and drover off, Weatherwax said.
Scherer, who was wearing dark clothes, was hunched over picking up a clamming shovel when a white truck, similar to a Ford Ranger, hit him “pretty hard,” she said.
On Wednesday morning, Weatherwax said the truck driver turned himself in at the Clallam County Courthouse and was connected with State Patrol investigators.
The unnamed man faces felony hit and run charges, she said.
Ten fire district personnel responded and cleared the highway scene for Washington State Patrol’s investigation.
