A 25-year-old man who grew up on Vashon and his 4-month-old baby were killed in a car crash in Whatcom County on Sunday.
According to multiple news reports, Philip Moyer, 25, had 4-month-old Penelope in the car with him, and was driving westbound on Mount Baker Highway near Deming, east of Bellingham, on Sunday morning. Philip’s wife, Pamela Quintanilla Moyer, was in a different vehicle in front of her husband heading the same direction.
A Chevy Suburban going eastbound crossed the center line. Pamela was able to swerve to avoid the Suburban, but her Toyota Yaris rolled over. The Suburban, driven by a 71-year-old Maple Falls man, then collided head on with Philip’s car.
Philip and Penelope both died at the scene. Pamela was transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham and has serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Suburban is at the same hospital in critical condition.
Philip grew up on the island with his two siblings — Nolan and McCallie Moyer — and graduated from Vashon High School in 2010. He played baseball with the Pirates and planned to attend Western Washington University. He was living in Bellingham at the time of Sunday’s collision.
Islander Susan Wolfe attended Vashon’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with Philip and said her husband was Philip’s scout leader when he was in Boy Scouts. While she didn’t know him well, she said she was shocked at the news and remembered seeing him in church.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Philip’s wife. As of Monday evening, more than $33,000 of the $20,000 goal had been raised.
“The world lost a kind, wonderful man and Pamela lost her whole world,” Philip’s coworker in Bellingham, Shannon Einarson, said on the GoFundMe page. “We are raising money for his wife, Pamela, to help her with the expenses to help her lay her husband and baby girl to rest, and to give her some financial assistance for her immediate and uncertain future. The loss is devastating.”
Einarson said the family was on their way to church when the crash occurred.
To donate to the GoFundMe page, visit gofundme.com/9upba-final-expenses.
Meanwhile, a meal train has been organized for Philip’s family on Vashon. By Monday night, 27 islanders had signed up to provide food and assistance to Gillian Callison and her husband, Terry Peters, through June 8.
“Please take the time to embrace The Callison-Peters Family on Vashon Island, as well as the Moyer Family in Bend and on Vashon Island, as they journey through the loss of their son Philip and granddaughter, Penelope,” organizer Sheri Turner wrote on the Meal Train page. “Send brother Nolan and sister McCallie your hugs. Celebrate their life with your love and good thoughts and remembering joy in their beautiful smiles.”
To volunteer to provide a meal, visit mealtrain.com/trains/r3q6d7.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday in Bellingham. Information about other services, including any on-island, is still to come.
