Bob Siguaw of Deming, pictured with his aircraft. The 73-year-old Van Zandt community member and pilot died Saturday in a crash on State Route 9 near milepost 77. (Photo: Bob Siguah Facebook)
WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — A fatal crash on State Route 9 near Van Zandt on Saturday has left a tight-knit community grieving the loss of a man remembered as both a tireless worker and a deeply devoted family figure.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the collision occurred around 12:10 p.m. on May 2 at milepost 77.
This Crash Report is sponsored by CrashLaw.NET, a legal resource for crash victims in Whatcom County.
How the Crash Happened
Troopers said Robert E. Siguaw, 73, of Deming, was driving northbound in a left-turn lane when he attempted to turn into a residence.
His vehicle crossed into the southbound lane and a southbound SUV struck it. Siguaw died at the scene. Authorities confirmed his family has been notified.
The second driver, a 16-year-old girl from Deming, was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt, and investigators confirmed drugs or alcohol played no role.
The Washington State Patrol determined the cause of the crash was failure to yield the right of way. PNW Daily has withheld the name of the teenage accident victim due to her age.
A Community Loss Felt Beyond the Crash Site
In Van Zandt and across the South Fork Valley, the loss resonates not just through the facts of the collision, but through the life behind them.
“At High Noon today at the Van Zandt Community Hall the bell will toll to recognize and mourn the passage of venerable Van Zandt and Southfork Valley friend, neighbor and family man Bob Siguaw,” a post from Van Zandt Stewards read Sunday. “Van Zandt Stewards extends its sympathy and condolences to his family.”
Family members painted a more personal picture of the man they lost.
“Today, my family lost a great man,” wrote Erin DeRoco on behalf of the family. “Always the first to tell us when we were wrong and also the first to lend a helping hand when we needed it. He never missed the moment in these last few years to tell us he was proud of us. He spent his life working harder than anyone I know and loving all of his kids, grandkids, and stray kids with his whole heart.”
“I know his Dad met him with a hug and a smile and together they will keep loving us and looking out for us,” the statement continued. “My family would also like to thank our community first responders for rendering swift and compassionate aid.”
He spent his life working harder than anyone I know and loving all of his kids, grandkids, and stray kids with his whole heart.
— The Siguaw Family
Remembering More Than a Statistic
In rural Whatcom County, where communities like Van Zandt are built on decades of shared history, losses like this ripple far beyond a single incident report. What remains now is not just the record of a collision, but the memory of a man whose presence, by all accounts, left a lasting mark on those around him.
The crash remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
PNW Daily brings you this Crash Report as part of the ongoing series sponsored by CrashLaw.NET. If you’ve been seriously injured, give Ziad Youssef and the team a call today at (360) 255-5046.
About the Author
