James Byrd and Misty Byrd Injured in Suspected DUI Crash on SR-101 near SR-3 in Shelton
James and his two passengers were on their way to his wife’s funeral when the crash occurred. As a result, the three were unable to attend the funeral.
Shelton, WA – Two Skokomish Nation residents were injured in a wrong-way collision involving a suspected driver on SR-101 in Shelton Saturday morning, the Washington State Patrol said.
The wreck happened shortly before 11 a.m. March 6, 2021, on State Route 101, just south of the SR-3 interchange.
According to the WSP, Branden Malleck, 39, of Shelton was under the influence when he started driving southbound in the northbound lanes of SR-101 and collided with an oncoming vehicle driven by 67-year-old James Byrd of Skokomish Nation.
James Byrd and one of his passengers, 41-year-old Misty Byrd, also from Skokomish, were injured in the crash. Misty was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with a crushed knee. Byrd’s second passenger, Hailey Brown, 21, of Skokomish Nation, was not injured in the crash.
Malleck was unhurt in the accident and was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular assault.
According to the Byrd family, James and his two passengers were on their way to his wife’s funeral when the crash occurred. As a result, the three were unable to attend the funeral.
The incident remains under investigation.