The quiet of the night on the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 near the summit of Snoqualmie Pass was shattered late Wednesday when the life of 18-year-old Conner D. Nugent of North Bend ended in a devastating crash. According to officials with the Washington State Patrol (WSP), he lost control of his 1994 Ford Ranger just after 10:30 p.m., rolled into a barrier, and came to rest partially obstructing the right lane.
What followed is all the more heartbreaking: a westbound semi-truck, driven by 26-year-old Bernardino Salas Orozco of Umatilla, Oregon, struck Conner’s vehicle shortly afterward. Salas Orozco was wearing his seatbelt and walked away unharmed. Conner, however, was not wearing a seatbelt, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The WSP confirmed that no signs of drugs or alcohol were found in the lead-up to the crash, and the agency continues its investigation into the exact chain of events.
Beyond the harrowing details of the accident lies a young man remembered not for his final moments, but for the life he lived. Conner is described by his friends and family as full of light, always ready to lend a hand, and someone whose energy brought a spark to any room. He loved his family deeply, delighted in his friendships, and was seen by his community as a bright promise of what was to come.
The news of his passing has rippled through North Bend and beyond. Classmates, neighbors and friends have been leaving messages of grief and tribute, gathering in halls and homes to share memories and hold each other up. For a town that knew him, the loss feels profound, leaving a quiet emptiness in the places he once filled with joy.
Conner Nugent (2007-2025) now joins the count of those lives cut too short—yet his story remains in motion, carried by the hearts of those who knew him. His laughter, his kindness, his presence—they won’t fade. They will be the legacy his loved ones carry forward.
In the coming days, as investigators process evidence, traffic on that stretch of I-90 will return to routine. But the memory of that roll, the barrier, the collision—will remain for the community. And in those quiet moments of remembrance, the town of North Bend will honor Conner by living with the same light he shared: caring for one another, laughing when possible, and never taking the simple things for granted.
