A Quilcene man is dead, and a Brinnon man has been charged, after a two-vehicle accident  May 4 that shut down Highway 101 half a mile north of Brinnon.

At approximately 7:07 p.m., a 1985 GMC C1500 pickup truck driven by 59-year-old Russell S. Mikeal of Brinnon, and a 1998 Honda VT750CW motorcycle driven by 49-year-old Kevin L. Lewis of Quilcene, were both heading northbound on U.S. Highway 101 at Milepost 304.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the motorcyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed  behind the pickup, when the pickup pulled over to the right shoulder, and quickly re-entered the northbound lane while performing a U-turn.

The motorcyclist was unable to stop, and struck the front driver’s side tire of the pickup.

The two vehicles became entangled and continued across the roadway, then ignited and came to rest in the southbound ditch, fully engulfed.

Lewis was ejected from his motorcycle, over Mikeal’s pickup, and came to rest in the southbound ditch.

The Washington State Patrol reported that it was unknown whether Mikeal had been wearing his seatbelt, while Lewis was wearing a helmet that was not in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene, and his next of kin were notified by the Washington State Patrol’s chaplain.

Mikeal was charged with driving under the influence and vehicular homicide.

Both vehicles were totaled.

At 7:47 p.m., Jefferson County Emergency Management issued a public information message that Highway 101, half a mile north of Brinnon, would be closed for approximately an hour.

At 8:40 p.m., JCEM updated its notice to report that the closure had switched to alternating traffic, which remained in place until the accident was cleared.