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 SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 6:12 pm |
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Local News 
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Friends mourn 2 killed in Lynnwood crash Two young men died in a single-car crash; their two friends were injured. LYNNWOOD — Brandon Norton was the designated driver Friday night.The Meadowdale High School graduate, 21, had already taken a car full of people home from a party he attended and was driving three of his other friends. They were northbound on North Road in unincorporated Snohomish County just past 2 a.m. on Saturday when the car went off the road and smashed into a tree. He died instantly. So did Ehlo Blacknall, 20, who sat behind Norton. Tyler Gilbert, 20, and Trevor Moore, 21, were rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious injuries. Gilbert was allowed to go home on Sunday evening. Moore was in serious condition. Detectives from the Snohomish County sheriff's Collision Investigation Unit on Saturday determined that the car was traveling at 70 to 80 mph when it left the road. The speed limit in the area is 35 mph. The turn is posted at 25 mph. “He was so young and had such a good life ahead of him,” said Laurie O'Donnell, Norton's mom, on Sunday evening. She recalled how her son's face would light up when he smiled, ear to ear. A memorial of flowers and candles surrounding a makeshift cross marked the place of the crash on Sunday afternoon. More than a dozen friends and family members looked on, many choking back tears. A poster placed against a tree read “Proud to be Meadowdale Maverick.” Norton was a star athlete, said Lizzi Mohs, 18, of Lynnwood. Mohs and Norton struck a friendship in middle school and were close friends in high school. “Brandon had a great laugh,” said Mara Eberth, 19, who also came to honor her friends' memory. Norton wanted to play soccer professionally. He had playoffs scheduled for Saturday morning, Mohs said. She said nobody saw him drink at the party on Friday night. On Saturday, the sheriff's office said in a press release that it is investigating whether alcohol may have been a factor in the crash. Temperatures in the area dipped below freezing Friday night, and there could have been ice on area roads, according to the National Weather Service. “They were the most fun-loving, outgoing people,” Mohs said about her friends. Blacknall lost his father as a child and went through some rough times, Mohs said. He loved skateboarding and loved life. Mohs and other friends drove to Seattle later on Sunday to visit Moore and Gilbert in the hospital. She said Moore was a “guardian” to his loved ones. “It's all about family for him,” Mohs said. When Moore was younger, he got into a bike accident and skinned one side of his face. He now has a white eyebrow, Mohs said. It made her smile. Mohs learned from Moore's family that he needed surgery. She and others just hoped he would get better soon. Gilbert spent Sunday evening with his loved ones. He and Blacknall were always together, always making friends laugh. They even shared a home, she said. Kim Matzen watched from her porch on Sunday afternoon as friends came and went in a steady stream, bringing more flowers, balloons and candles. Matzen's house is on 176th Place SW, a cul-de-sac right before North Road makes the turn where Norton and Blacknall died. She's seen many wrecks over the years; mostly cars in a ditch, but serious crashes too. “Rarely do people go the speed limit,” she said. The road is narrow and curvy, and there is little room to walk on the side of the road. The traffic, however, is always heavy and Matzen is worried about kids walking to school. “There is no room for error here,” she said. Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@herladnet.com. |
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COMMENTS
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This is really a sad story for sure. My heart goes out to the boy's families and friends. Unfortunately, this story seems to repeat itself time and again in our culture. I live just south of the high school on North Rd, been there 10 years. 4-5 times a year I am awaken by a really fast moving vehicle coming from Filbert Rd. This straight-away seems to be very enticing. When I'm awaken, I listen in hopes of hearing them begin to slow down for this very sharp corner about a mile north. This time was no different. This car was moving so fast that I thought it was a motorcycle. My estimation would be that it passed my house near LHS over 100 miles per hour (based on the high pitch of the revved-out engine). With such a short distance to slow, ice would never have been a factor. Speed was the factor and I hope that alcohol was not a contributor for all concerned. Again, my heart goes out to those affected and may God somehow give you comfort and knowledge through this tough time.
Bill Vogul | Nov 16, 2009 9:59 am | 1 replies | Request removal
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Sad story, condolences to the family & friends of those lost and injured. Just another story of big hearts & little brains behind the wheel, slow down
B R | Nov 19, 2009 1:00 pm | Request removal
My family and I have been friends of the Norton family for about half of the last century. The Nortons used to own a home there on North Road several years ago. Although I have not seen Brandon since his grandmothers funeral I can tell you that he was a very bright boy with a smile that could light up anyone. He and his brother were always good boys. Brandon's family has already seen more than their share of tragidy over the years. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Michael Denton | Nov 17, 2009 1:04 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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This is a sad and tragic story for sure. My 23 year old son heard the crash, jumped out of bed and was the first at the scene. Images he will never forget. The front seat passenger was slumped over having difficulty breathing. My son held up his head to give him a more open airway. As my son's roomates arrived, he had them take over while he heard the surviving back seat passenger calling to 'get me out of here'. My son could not get the door open so he used his forearm and smashed in the window to pull him out. The emergency vehicles arrived to take over. I cannot imagine what was going through my son's head as he walked back to his house. Maybe he was trying to prepare for the funeral he would attend for his own friend the next day. Or the one he will soon be attending for the second friend he learned had died over the weekend. There are no words of comfort that are adequate in such losses. None at all.
Cindy Kinser | Nov 16, 2009 2:13 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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