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Clallam County Fire District No. 2 Assistant Chief Dan Huff confirmed that three cars collided around 9:22am Friday, September 22 on Highway 101; the driver of a 1995 Ford Bronco — Gabe Rygaard — died at Olympic Medical Center due to injuries from the wreck. A total of seven people from the three cars sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene, and released.

The crash occurred, according to the State Patrol, when Gabe’s Ford Bronco veered to the left and struck the back of a Chevrolet Tahoe that had stopped in front of him on the highway. Gabe rotated, and slammed into a Dodge Ram coming in the opposite direction. Gabe was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash. The gruesome pics from the scene are hard to look at, showing the crumpled up fronts of the cars, and the wreckage strewn about the road.

Gabe’s father Craig Rygaard confirmed the tragic news about the 44-year-old owner-operator of Rygaard Logging, featured on the History Channel reality show Ax Men. He was the owner of Ryfield Properties Inc. in Port Angeles and Penny Creek Quarry in Quilcene, as well. Gabe also ran as a Republican in the primary for the District 2 county commissioner seat, but did not advance from the August primaries to the general election.

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He leaves behind his wife and business partner, Katy Rygaard, and three beautiful children, ranging in ages from 10 years old to 19 years old. The latter, his son, Aiden Rygaard,worked at Rygaard Logging with his father and was also featured on Ax Men — along with father Craig.

HollywoodLifers, our thoughts are with Gabe’s family during this difficult time.