Sequim man killed in motorcycle wreck; found at base of cliff

Jeffrey Nash ()

Jeffrey Nash ()

SEQUIM — A Sequim man missing since early Friday morning was found dead Saturday.

Deputies said he apparently drove his motorcycle over a cliff overlooking Dungeness Bay.

They found the body of Jeffrey Nash, 47, at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the base of the cliff north of the intersection of Cays Road and Marine Drive, said Sgt. Eric Munger of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

“He was northbound on Cays Road and didn’t navigate that corner onto Marine Drive,” Munger said.

“It appears that his cause of death was injuries as a result of the accident. That cliff is 50 to 75 feet between the top and down to the bottom,” with Nash located “down the bluff on the beach below.”

The rate of speed Nash was traveling when he went over the cliff was unknown, Munger said.

Investigators do not suspect foul play, he said.

A toxicology report and autopsy are pending, he added.

The death remains under investigation.

Commercial diver

Nash, a commercial diver for A1 Commercial Diving Services, was in Port Angeles on Thursday night spending a night out with friends, said Chris Gibbs, Nash’s employer and personal friend.

“We are all commercial divers,” Gibbs said. “He is an underwater welder.”

At about 1:45 a.m. Friday morning, Nash was dropped off at the Red Lion Hotel, Gibbs said, with the intention that he would get a room for the night.

Instead, Nash apparently “decided to get on his bike to ride home,” Gibbs said.

“Some people saw him and tried to stop him, but he got on his bike and took off. That is the last time anybody saw him,” Gibbs said.

After learning that Nash had never made it home, Gibbs began organizing a search party to scour U.S. Highway 101 and Old Olympic Highway — Nash’s presumed route of travel — for any sign of his friend.

The group also made a missing person’s report after Nash had been missing for 24 hours to Port Angeles police, Gibbs said.

________

Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Phyllis Becker of Port Hadlock, foreground, and Wendy Davis of Port Townsend, volunteers with the Jefferson County Trash Task Force, pick up litter along Discovery Road on Sunday during the first trash pickup of the year. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Litter patrol

Phyllis Becker of Port Hadlock, foreground, and Wendy Davis of Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Jefferson County defers oversight role for homelessness grant

OlyCAP will continue to be lead agency for Commerce funding

Members of Trail Life USA, a boys Christian adventure organization, salute the burning retired flags and holiday wreaths from veterans’ graves. This joint flag retirement and wreath burning ceremony took place Saturday at the Bekkevar farm in Blyn. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Flags, veterans’ wreaths retired at ceremony

Boys, girls organizations attend event at farm

One person taken to hospital after three-car collision

Two people were injured following a three-car collision on… Continue reading

Jefferson Conservation District seeking board candidates

The Jefferson County Conservation District is accepting applications for… Continue reading

Closing reception set for ‘Strong People’ exhibit

The Field Hall Gallery will host a closing reception… Continue reading

Kathy Downer takes the oath office for Sequim City Council seat No. 1 on Jan. 8, 2024, in the council chambers. She plans to resign from council this month after three-plus years to spend time with family. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group file)
Sequim council member to resign

Downer unseated former mayor in 2023 election

If a construction bond is approved, Sequim High School’s open campus could be enclosed to increase safety and update the older facility, Sequim School District staff said. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Ballots for Sequim schools’ bond, levy measures to be mailed Jan. 22

Helen Haller Elementary would be replaced, if successful

Stakeholders and community leaders stand together for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County's Lyon's Landing property in Carlsborg on Dec. 23. (Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County)
Habitat breaks ground at Carlsborg development

Lyon’s Landing planning to host 45 homes

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Students from Mutsu City, Japan, and Port Angeles sit in a Stevens Middle School classroom eating lunch before the culture fair on Tuesday. To pass the time, they decided to have a drawing contest between themselves. (Rob Edwards)
Japanese students visit Port Angeles as part of sister city program

Mutsu students tour area’s landmarks, stay with host families