A Sunday ride along the Washington coast turned fatal when two Raymond residents died in a sudden motorcycle crash along State Route 105 near Grayland. John W. Huglen, 33, was driving a 2022 Indian Chief motorcycle southbound with 35-year-old April L. Dundom riding along as his passenger. Just before 6:00 p.m., the motorcycle drifted off the pavement, setting off a chain of events that ended in tragedy before emergency crews arrived.
State troopers reported that the incident occurred around 5:55 p.m. near milepost 14 in Pacific County. Huglen lost control as the motorcycle left the southbound lane and hit a rock embankment running along the edge of the road. The hard impact sent the bike veering clear across both traffic lanes, finally stopping on the opposite northbound shoulder.
First responders arriving at the scene pronounced both Huglen and Dundom dead where the motorcycle came to rest. Sheriff’s deputies from Pacific County were tasked with notifying their families later that evening. Officials confirmed that both riders were wearing Department of Transportation-approved helmets when the crash happened.
State Route 105 serves as a main artery through southwestern Washington, winding past coastal towns like Tokeland and connecting inland Raymond to the Pacific Ocean. The stretch near milepost 14 sits roughly thirty miles northeast of the coast, where local traffic meets long stretches of open highway. Road conditions along the rural route can present sudden hazards, though troopers have not specified what caused the bike to drift off course.
Washington State Patrol investigators have listed the official cause as pending while they reconstruct the events leading up to the collision. Authorities are reviewing whether factors like speed, road surface issues, or mechanical trouble played a role. They have also noted that it remains undetermined if alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash.
The sudden loss sent shockwaves through the small town of Raymond, where both victims lived. Word of the tragedy quickly reached friends and loved ones through official channels and personal outreach. The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office handled the delicate work of notifying next of kin, ensuring families learned the news directly from law enforcement.
As state troopers continue their review, the 2022 Indian Chief remains a total loss, and the investigation stays open. Local authorities plan to release further details once toxicology tests and collision reconstruction reports are finished. For now, the stretch of highway near Grayland stands as the location of a tragic mystery that investigators are still working to solve.
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