Quilcene motorcyclists in deadly wreck identified

PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the man who died and the woman who was injured in a motorcycle wreck Monday afternoon on Center Road.

Gustave “John” Brush, 77, of Quilcene, who had been driving the motorcycle, died on the scene.

Gayle Johnson, 70, also of Quilcene, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the wreck, said Art Frank, chief criminal deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office ,late Tuesday.

Johnson was treated and discharged from Harborview on Monday night, the hospital reported Wednesday.

Harborview staff were not able to comment on the extent of her injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office’s investigation of the wreck found that Brush had hit a large bird, which caused him to swerve off the road in the 5000 block of Center Road before the intersection of Eaglemount Road and McMillan Road.

East Jefferson Fire-Rescue firefighters were the first on the scene and attempted to revive the motorcycle driver, but their attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.

His passenger was unconscious when first responders arrived, according to Bill Beezley of East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.

She was airlifted from the intersection of Eaglemount and McMillan roads.

The area was closed to traffic in both directions from roughly 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday due to the accident, airlift and the subsequent investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

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