Horrifying images show trail of destruction left by ‘drunk’ driver who ‘slaughtered 25 seagulls’ – as his wife’s bubbly response to cops is revealed
A vacationing Jeep driver has been accused of deliberately mowing down 25 seagulls on a beach and has been charged with animal cruelty.
James Shephard Travis, 64, was served with a summons this week by the Pacific County District Attorney’s Office in Washington at his home in Hawaii.
The seagull massacre took place around 8 p.m. on July 27 at Klipsan Beach, near Ocean Park in Washington, in front of shocked beachgoers.
Witnesses said the rented silver Jeep Wrangler was “driving sideways past stuck vehicles and people” at speeds of 50 to 60 mph.
A mother and her nine-year-old son said they were nearly run over while walking their dog as the SUV drove back and forth on the beach.
James Shephard Travis, 64, is accused of deliberately mowing down birds while vacationing in Ocean Park, Washington, and nearly running over a woman and her nine-year-old son
Travis was identified by police after a witness took photos of him behind the wheel of the bloodstained car, with one of the birds still stuck in the grille
Travis was identified by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police after a witness took photos of him behind the wheel of the blood-stained car.
Kim Ledyard McGee said she, her wife Bob and her friend Dorothy Howard saw the man race across the beach, hitting the birds.
“We saw him plow through the herd without slowing down one bit, and he didn’t swerve to avoid birds,” Howard told police.
Shortly after, they saw the Jeep coming back and Bob blocked it with his car. Then they confronted Travis and took pictures.
Travis was “in a daze” and kept “saying sorry in a soft, monotone voice … appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the police report said.
Witness Kim McGee took photos of the driver and the Jeep, which had pieces of seagull stuck in the grille
Travis was in town for the class of 1984 reunion of Ilwaco High School, where his wife, Gena Snow-Travis, 58, (pictured) attended school
‘A few minutes later he passed us again at high speed. After the third time Bob threw our beater truck sideways, right in front of [him] “We forced him to hit us or stop,” McGee explained in a Facebook post.
“We jumped out at him screaming… He even had a dead bird in his grill! After we rammed him out, he still took off at high speed.”
McGee took photos of the driver and the Jeep, which had pieces of seagulls in the grille, and video of numerous dead birds on the sand.
The trio collected three surviving birds and took them to an animal shelter for treatment, “but sadly they died in our arms.”
“I’m so upset and it’s something I’ll never forget or forget,” McGee said.
The police report states that “the seagulls had injuries consistent with a vehicle collision.”
Photos taken on the beach show two dozen dead seagulls
Travis was in town for the class of 1984 reunion of Ilwaco High School, where his wife Gena Snow-Travis, 58, attended school and they were staying with her parents.
Pacific County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Wray also attended the same reunion, a golf tournament, and told police he saw Travis there around 2:30 p.m. and thought he was intoxicated.
The couple, who have been married for 15 years, flew into Portland Airport and rented the silver 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid.
The car was returned to Budget Rental Car at approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 29. Police examined the car and found springs still attached to the grille.
Travis and his wife had flown back to their home in Honolulu, where Snow-Travis works as a real estate agent for Private Homes Hawai’i.
Travis is charged with first-degree animal cruelty (a class C felony) and reckless driving, and faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty
Witnesses also captured video footage of numerous dead birds on the sand
Police called and texted Snow-Travis repeatedly, and she eventually responded, “Thanks! I gave Jim the information. He will be in touch shortly. Aloha.”
However, the police report shows that Travis never contacted detectives.
Travis is charged with first-degree animal cruelty (a class C felony) and reckless driving. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
“Travis was driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed, nearly striking pedestrians and multiple dogs,” police said.
District Attorney Craig Newman said Travis would be issued a summons to return to Pacific County and appear in court, or a warrant would be issued for his arrest and he could be extradited.