Outpouring of sympathy for mom whose husband, infant daughter died in wreck

An online account established to help the Ferndale woman whose husband and infant daughter were killed in a Mother’s Day car wreck had grown Monday afternoon to more than $30,000, well past its initial $20,000 goal.

Fueled by an outpouring of grief and sympathy on social media, donors are posting messages of support for Pamela C. Moyer, 24, who also was injured in the three-car wreck at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on the Mount Baker Highway near Rifugio’s Country Italian Cuisine in the foothills community of Welcome. She was treated for minor injuries and released Sunday from St. Joseph hospital.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, I went to school with Pamela she is such a sweet and kind person she lights up a room every time she enters it, I send my prayers and love your way!!!!” wrote Tanyel Visnaw on the GoFundMe page called Moyer Family Final Expenses. The fund was to pay for the two funerals and other expenses related to the crash.

“Phillip was a wonderful guy and a great friend,” wrote Jeff Compton, about Pamela’s husband, Phillip Moyer.

The Moyers were on their way to church Sunday, according to the GoFundMe page.

Washington State Patrol investigators said Larry E. Fitzgerald’s Chevrolet Suburban crossed into oncoming traffic, causing the crash that killed Moyer’s husband Phillip, 25, and their 5-month-old daughter Penelope R. Moyer. Both died at the scene.

Fitzgerald, 71, of Maple Falls, remained in critical condition Monday at St. Joseph hospital, where he was taken by ambulance Sunday, a nursing supervisor said.

Investigators still don’t know why Fitzgerald, who was eastbound on Mount Baker Highway near Mosquito Lake Road, drifted across the centerline in his Suburban, side-swiping Pamela Moyer’s westbound Toyota Yaris, flipping it over, and striking her husband’s Subaru Legacy wagon head-on. Penelope was with her father in the Subaru, which was following behind the Yaris.

“We could be looking at criminal charges, depending,” said state patrol Sgt. Mark Francis.

Francis said there were no initial indications that drugs or alcohol were involved, but a timely sample of Fitzgerald’s blood couldn’t be obtained because he went directly into surgery.

He said it was too soon to speculate about driver distraction or mechanical failure as factors in the wreck. He couldn’t say if Fitzgerald is a licensed driver.

Whatcom County District Court records show Fitzgerald has been cited at least nine times since 1990 on traffic violations, both criminal and non-criminal, for infractions that include speeding, tailgating, improper turning and negligent driving. In addition, he has been convicted or paid fines for driving with a suspended license, giving false information to an officer and driving without insurance or registration.

This story was originally published May 15, 2017 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Outpouring of sympathy for mom whose husband, infant daughter died in wreck."