Community mourns Anacortes teacher killed in Highway 20 crash

Edmundo Mundo Corrales died after a four vehicle crash on Highway 20 near Deception Pass on December 1, leaving behind his wife and a young daughter. Corrales was 36 years old and known across Island County for his roles as a teacher, coach and student advisor at Anacortes High School. His loss has prompted community gatherings and fundraising efforts as family, colleagues and former students respond.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday December 14 in the Anacortes High School gymnasium. The family has established a GoFundMe to help them remain in their home and cover immediate debts. Anacortes High School is also encouraging donations to a fund to purchase bilingual books for the Spanish department in his memory, reflecting Corrales’ work teaching Spanish and supporting bilingual students.

Corrales graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 2007 and earned a kinesiology degree from Whitworth University. He coached at Sedro Woolley before joining the Anacortes schools, where he taught Spanish and coached multiple sports. Colleagues and former students have released tributes and community statements recognizing his impact as a mentor, coach and advocate for students.

The sudden loss underscores practical concerns for the school district and the broader community. Administrators will need to address temporary staffing in the Spanish department and athletic programs while also supporting grieving students and staff. The creation of a bilingual book fund highlights a tangible legacy that can influence curriculum resources and cultural inclusion in classrooms. The crash location on Highway 20 near Deception Pass also raises questions for local and state authorities about traffic safety and emergency response on this busy route.

Attendance at the memorial and contributions to the family fund and the bilingual book fund will shape the community response in the weeks ahead. For many in Island County, Corrales’ death is both a personal loss and a prompt for local leaders to consider how schools and agencies support families of school employees and how transportation safety is monitored on critical corridors.