On July 2, 2025

Dennis was riding his TW Yamaha motorcycle south on Commercial Avenue in Anacortes, Washington, when another driver in a Honda Accord failed to yield, nearly causing a collision. According to video surveillance, the two vehicles looped around the block, at normal speeds with DJ following, continuing down Commercial Ave, where DJ passed the sedan before both turned on 17th St toward R Ave. According to video footage obtained by police, DJ is seen swerving into the Ace Hardware parking lot, tipping his motorcycle, and being thrown from it, coming to rest on his back on the ground. The video shows the sedan turning sharply into the parking lot at the next entrance, striking Dennis Thornlow and dragging him through the lot until he became unwedged and was left in the street, while the driver continued southbound on Q Avenue. Drag marks extended roughly 186 feet from the motorcycle to where Dennis Thornlow was found, according to the probable affidavit. “Based on the video evidence from Ace Hardware, it is clear that [the driver of the sedan] made substantial steps to intentionally run over Dennis Thornlow’s body with his vehicle, killing Dennis Thornlow,” Sergeant Detective Nations wrote in her affidavit of probable cause. Despite the quick response from police and medical professionals, Thornlow was declared deceased at 10:25 pm. The driver of the sedan was later brought in by his parents to the Anacortes Police Department and initially charged with Hit and Run, then additionally charged with Vehicular Homicide and Second-Degree Murder. The man allegedly responsible for Thornlow’s death is currently out on a $50,000 bail, and trial has been set for February 2, 2026.