Family seeks justice in deadly Sultan hit and run
SULTAN, Wash. -- Paula Stierns lived a hard life, even living on the streets for years.
Her family says that may have lead to her death, but it's not what killed her.
"In the last two years, she got caught on fire, (and was) taken to Harborview (Medical Center), stayed there for quite some time," said daughter Brandy Ross. "And last year, she got caught in the flood and nearly got taken down river."
Stierns spent years living on the streets by choice, according to family members.
"We didn't get to see a whole lot of her because of the way she chose to live, but it didn't mean we stopped caring," said sister Bonnie Griffin.
Though they were not always able to see her, family members always knew she wasn't far. But that changed last Friday.
Police say Stierns was walking on the 311th Avenue SE Bridge around 8:30 p.m. when a driver heading southbound hit her, then left her for dead. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now family members are desperate to find the driver and some closure in their loved one's sudden death.
"They need to be punished for what they did," Griffin said. "They hadn't left the scene of the accident, it would have been so much better, but they left."
"Now she's not there at all, so no one can go see her. No one can go say, 'Hi' to her. No one can go tell her that she was going to be a Grandma," said Ross.
Ross said she and her mother shared a bond unlike most mothers and daughters. They spent two years living on the streets together. They were survivors.
Ross said she's saddened by her mother's death, but also somewhat relieved to know her mother is no longer suffering.
"A lot less heartache knowing that she's in a better spot, knowing that she doesn't have to be cold this winter," she said.
Snohomish County sheriff's detectives are actively investigating the case.
There is no good description of the hit-and-run vehicle, but investigators believe it has new front-end damage, which may be on the right side of the vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Joe Goffin at (425) 388-5436.
Her family says that may have lead to her death, but it's not what killed her.
"In the last two years, she got caught on fire, (and was) taken to Harborview (Medical Center), stayed there for quite some time," said daughter Brandy Ross. "And last year, she got caught in the flood and nearly got taken down river."
Stierns spent years living on the streets by choice, according to family members.
"We didn't get to see a whole lot of her because of the way she chose to live, but it didn't mean we stopped caring," said sister Bonnie Griffin.
Though they were not always able to see her, family members always knew she wasn't far. But that changed last Friday.
Police say Stierns was walking on the 311th Avenue SE Bridge around 8:30 p.m. when a driver heading southbound hit her, then left her for dead. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now family members are desperate to find the driver and some closure in their loved one's sudden death.
"They need to be punished for what they did," Griffin said. "They hadn't left the scene of the accident, it would have been so much better, but they left."
"Now she's not there at all, so no one can go see her. No one can go say, 'Hi' to her. No one can go tell her that she was going to be a Grandma," said Ross.
Ross said she and her mother shared a bond unlike most mothers and daughters. They spent two years living on the streets together. They were survivors.
Ross said she's saddened by her mother's death, but also somewhat relieved to know her mother is no longer suffering.
"A lot less heartache knowing that she's in a better spot, knowing that she doesn't have to be cold this winter," she said.
Snohomish County sheriff's detectives are actively investigating the case.
There is no good description of the hit-and-run vehicle, but investigators believe it has new front-end damage, which may be on the right side of the vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Joe Goffin at (425) 388-5436.