A 22-year-old Illinois man lost his life in a suspected DUI crash in Port Orchard, Washington, in the early hours of Saturday, June 6, 2026, leaving behind a family and community shattered by the sudden tragedy.
Gregory Micahl Mowen, originally from Galesburg, Illinois, and a graduate of Abingdon-Avon High School, was one of five young people riding in a vehicle that crashed on Beach Drive near Wynn Jones Road at around 4 a.m.
When Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the scene, they found that Gregory had not survived the collision. The four other occupants of the vehicle were also involved in the wreck, though their conditions have not been publicly detailed by authorities.
Evidence gathered at the scene pointed to driver impairment, and the case has since been handed over to the Kitsap Interagency Traffic Team, which is actively investigating the crash as a possible vehicular homicide.
No arrests have been publicly announced, and law enforcement has not officially released the name of the driver or confirmed the identity of the victim, though Gregory’s family came forward on social media to share the devastating news themselves.
His mother, Lanetta J. Orozco-Mitchell Mowen, wrote an emotional tribute describing her son as a soul who loved deeply and lived fully.
She shared that she believes his late sister came to bring him home to heaven and asked those who knew the family to be respectful while they navigate the unimaginable pain of losing a child. She also noted that funeral arrangements would be shared once the family had time to work through the details.
Friends and Loved Ones Remember a Life Cut Short
The outpouring of grief following Gregory’s death was immediate and overwhelming. His girlfriend, Kallie Roberson, called him her other half and said the two had made many plans together for the future.
Childhood friend Timothy Michael O’Connor shared his own tribute, recalling how the two grew up together and describing the pain of learning that someone he considered a younger brother was gone. Hundreds of others left comments offering their condolences to the family.
Gregory was described by those who knew him as someone who brought warmth and energy to every room. At just 22 years old, he had his whole life ahead of him.
The Kitsap Interagency Traffic Team continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Vehicular homicide charges in Washington State carry serious legal consequences when impairment is a factor, and the outcome of this investigation is expected to bring further developments in the days and weeks ahead.
Gregory Micahl Mowen was 22 years old.
