Car in hit-and-run crash that killed teen identified
EVERETT, Wash. -- State troopers have identified the vehicle suspected in the deadly crash that killed a 15-year-old girl on U.S. Highway 2 last month.
Investigators believe a blue-and-tan 1995 GMC Astro Van hit Heather Trickler on the night of May 30 as she was walking along the shoulder of the road, then let her for dead.
The vehicle description is the result of General Motor Corp's analysis of the evidence found at the scene of the crash at a trestle on the roadway's shoulder near the Homeacre Road exit.
The involved van likely sustained damaged to its right front side, where it is missing a side mirror and its antenna, detectives said.
Witnesses said they saw a car strike the girl, then take off around 10 p.m. on May 30.
Trickler's body was found two days later in a small area surrounded by jersey barriers separating the highway from the off-ramp that would make it difficult to be seen from passing cars.
The girl's grief-stricken father said she was hit while heading to his birthday celebration.
"Please, somebody out there knows something. Somebody saw something that can help us with closure," said Robin Trickler.
The father believes his daughter left her friend's home on May 30 and hit a familiar route, walking along State Route 2 on her way to the party in Lake Stevens. The last time Robin Trickler heard from his daughter was via voice message.
"It said, 'Daddy, pick up.' And I don't know if that message was delayed. That was the last I heard from my baby," he said.
The Washington State Patrol is actively seeking the driver who hit the girl, and is asking for the person to come forward.
"We want to have the person that struck this person, bottom line. Somebody knew that this happened and again, if we have to go look for this person, it's going to be a lot harder for them than if they come talk to us," said Trooper Keith Leary.
Anyone with information on the suspected vehicle is urged to contact the Washington State Patrol at (360) 658-2588.
Investigators believe a blue-and-tan 1995 GMC Astro Van hit Heather Trickler on the night of May 30 as she was walking along the shoulder of the road, then let her for dead.
The vehicle description is the result of General Motor Corp's analysis of the evidence found at the scene of the crash at a trestle on the roadway's shoulder near the Homeacre Road exit.
The involved van likely sustained damaged to its right front side, where it is missing a side mirror and its antenna, detectives said.
Witnesses said they saw a car strike the girl, then take off around 10 p.m. on May 30.
Trickler's body was found two days later in a small area surrounded by jersey barriers separating the highway from the off-ramp that would make it difficult to be seen from passing cars.
The girl's grief-stricken father said she was hit while heading to his birthday celebration.
"Please, somebody out there knows something. Somebody saw something that can help us with closure," said Robin Trickler.
The father believes his daughter left her friend's home on May 30 and hit a familiar route, walking along State Route 2 on her way to the party in Lake Stevens. The last time Robin Trickler heard from his daughter was via voice message.
"It said, 'Daddy, pick up.' And I don't know if that message was delayed. That was the last I heard from my baby," he said.
The Washington State Patrol is actively seeking the driver who hit the girl, and is asking for the person to come forward.
"We want to have the person that struck this person, bottom line. Somebody knew that this happened and again, if we have to go look for this person, it's going to be a lot harder for them than if they come talk to us," said Trooper Keith Leary.
Anyone with information on the suspected vehicle is urged to contact the Washington State Patrol at (360) 658-2588.