Late Saturday evening, a simple stroll turned into tragedy for 64-year-old Annette Gorr of Brewster. She was walking in the northbound lane of State Route 97, about five miles east of Brewster, when she was first struck by a vehicle, setting in motion a heartbreaking chain of events.
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the first vehicle was driven by 59-year-old Anselmo Morales‑Enriquez, who was travelling northbound and says he attempted to swerve to avoid Gorr but was unable to. The impact caused her to fall and remain in the roadway.
Morales-Enriquez immediately pulled his vehicle to the shoulder of the highway and stopped to assist. But while Gorr lay in the lane after that first collision, a second northbound vehicle came along and struck her again — this time fleeing the scene without stopping. The WSP continues to actively search for that hit-and-run vehicle.
Not long after, a third vehicle, driven by 22-year-old Jeremy Liberty of Easton, also ran over Gorr. Liberty did not stop and continued north until law enforcement later located him.
Emergency responders arrived to the scene and pronounced Annette Gorr dead there on the highway. The investigation remains ongoing as the WSP works to determine why Gorr was walking in the lane and to locate the second vehicle that fled.
The incident has rattled the local community in the Brewster area, as residents grapple with how quickly a normal evening can veer into something irreversible. Officials are asking anyone who saw the vehicles or noticed anything unusual on that stretch of SR-97 that night to call the WSP with information.
In the days ahead, authorities will focus on the fleeing driver, review any surveillance or dash-cam footage, and try to piece together the exact circumstances that led Gorr to walk in a traffic lane in the dark. For now, the highway remains a somber reminder of how fragile life can be — and how vital it is for anyone on foot or behind the wheel to stay alert, especially on stretches of road that might not have sidewalks or lighting.
Annette Gorr’s loss is felt by family, friends and neighbors alike. Her life, which ended far too soon, will be remembered not only for its own value—but also as a call to pay attention, to see and be seen, and to stop when our help is needed.
