Gabe Rygaard, star of the canceled History Channel reality TV series Ax Men and one-time candidate for Clallam County commissioner in Washington state, died on 16 September 2016 in a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101 near his hometown of Port Angeles. He was 45 years old.
According to the State Patrol, the accident occurred when Rygaard veered to avoid a slowing vehicle, and his Ford Bronco struck that and another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. A total of seven people were involved, none of whom, apart from Rygaard, sustained major injuries.
Rygaard was the owner-operator of Rygaard Logging Inc., Ryfield Properties Inc., and other local businesses in partnership with members of his family, some of whom also appeared in Ax Men, which chronicled the ups and downs of the logging business.
He is survived by his wife, Katy, and three children.
