Tacoma woman found dead after driving on beach near Ocean Shores, coroner says
A 39-year-old Tacoma woman drowned last month near Ocean Shores in Grays Harbor County after her vehicle was overcome by waves while she drove on the beach, according to the county coroner.
The Grays Harbor Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Itzel Perez in a Facebook post. The Sheriff’s Office said she was found Nov. 20 north of Damon Road, an access road to the beach.
Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the beach at about 8:30 a.m. for a report of a person found face down.
Coroner George Kelley described Perez’s death as a tragic accident and said in the post that his office extends condolences to her family.
In a statement shared with The News Tribune, Perez’s family said they wanted the community to know that this was a tragic accident and not a suicide. They asked for privacy as they grieve and said they hoped Perez would be remembered for the joy, light and love she brought into the world rather than the circumstances of her death.
“She was incredibly active and adventurous,” the family said of Perez in a written statement. “She loved to go hiking, backpacking, she even hiked the Wonderland Trail, completing 101 miles. She traveled the world, loved yoga, and found joy in spending time in nature. Her beloved dog, Sosa, was her constant companion; the two of them were inseparable. She regularly volunteered at the humane society, had a huge heart for animals, and was an avid reader with a deep curiosity about life.”
The family said the beach where the accident occurred was one of Perez’s favorite places to escape the city to find peace and reflect. Relatives said she had plans to launch her own business in the new year, having just purchased a coffee truck, and she was excited for a 40th birthday trip to Mexico City.
According to Perez’s Facebook account, she attended Sammamish High School in Bellevue and went to college at the University of Washington.
The Sheriff’s Office said investigators have not found any link between Perez’s death and the death of another Tacoma woman found in the same area Oct. 22, Annie Michelle Fears. Kelley said Monday that her case is ongoing and a cause and manner of death has not yet been established.
This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
