Woman bicyclist killed in hit-and-run crash near Monroe
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MONROE, Wash. -- A woman riding her bicycle was struck and killed by a pickup truck Wednesday night and police are still looking for the driver.
Police say the woman tried to cross Highway 2 at Old Owen Road around 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the truck was stopped at the intersection behind another vehicle in the eastbound lanes.
Witnesses reported that the pickup was revving the engine and then went around the first vehicle and struck the bicyclist in the intersection. The truck then drove off.
Two other vehicles drove into the intersection and also accidentally hit the bicyclist, but those drivers stayed on the scene to help with the investigation.
The woman was not wearing a helmet. Her name has not been released.
Friends of the victim, including motel manager Chris Johnson, are struggling to come to grips with the loss.
"We became pretty good friends, and now ... It's difficult. It's just a shock," Johnson said.
On Thursday, police went door to door looking for leads in the case. A state Department of Transportation official said the only camera pointed directly at the intersection was most likely not set up Wednesday night because it's only used for traffic studies.
For his part, Johnson just wants the driver to do the right thing and confess.
"If it was an accident then it was an accident," he said. "And if not, they definitely need to pay."
Witnesses only could say the driver was inside an older, light-colored pickup truck that was possibly blue and white. If you have any information, you are asked to call the Monroe police department.
Police say the woman tried to cross Highway 2 at Old Owen Road around 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the truck was stopped at the intersection behind another vehicle in the eastbound lanes.
Witnesses reported that the pickup was revving the engine and then went around the first vehicle and struck the bicyclist in the intersection. The truck then drove off.
Two other vehicles drove into the intersection and also accidentally hit the bicyclist, but those drivers stayed on the scene to help with the investigation.
The woman was not wearing a helmet. Her name has not been released.
Friends of the victim, including motel manager Chris Johnson, are struggling to come to grips with the loss.
"We became pretty good friends, and now ... It's difficult. It's just a shock," Johnson said.
On Thursday, police went door to door looking for leads in the case. A state Department of Transportation official said the only camera pointed directly at the intersection was most likely not set up Wednesday night because it's only used for traffic studies.
For his part, Johnson just wants the driver to do the right thing and confess.
"If it was an accident then it was an accident," he said. "And if not, they definitely need to pay."
Witnesses only could say the driver was inside an older, light-colored pickup truck that was possibly blue and white. If you have any information, you are asked to call the Monroe police department.
They found an abandoned vehicle that matches the description, according to The Herald. "Stolen truck may be linked to bicyclist's death".Â
@TreeTopFlyer Was it reported stolen before or after the incident?
Someone knows who this sheethead is and they are now, in my mind, a party to the murder. Turn this bastard in to police NOW!
SeaJim said it best: "We could all do with more courtesy and less impatience on the roads from cyclists and drivers alike."Â Â Â Â Â
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Regardless of whether you are pro-road cyclists or not the message here is clear. Getting behind the wheel comes with great responsibility; taking risks due to impatience or losing your cool due to 'road rage' isn't acceptable and certainly not worth someone's life.   Â
What in the world does that have to do with cyclists riding on road?  An impatient driver recklessly swerves around a car and runs a woman over.  How does that have anything to do with bicyclists in general?  Sad reflection on the attitudes of some drivers.  A dangerous one too.
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We could all do with more courtesy and less impatience on the roads from cyclists and drivers alike.
 @SeaJim It has alot to with bicyclists in general! Maybe she was crossing the street on red light, the driver in front of the pickup saw her, so he stayed put, but the driver in the pickup was thinking the driver in front of him was sleeping, or on his phone, so he drove around him and hit the bicycle! I see so many drivers sitting there for 20 seconds or more after the light has turned green because they are not awake! I am not at all defending this guy, just saying there could be more to this than the lousy report from KOMO is telling you.
... And for the record: WEAR A HELMET! One saved my life last Thrusday in a seattle parking garage. The rain being tracked in from cars combined with surface oil that doesn't wash away sent me to the hospital witha broken leg. The helmet was destroyed... I had only a broken leg and a latent mild concussion.
This is horrible, just horrible. Someone should have raced after the truck and gotten a plate number or followed him. I can't believe that the driver got away!Â
Are you condoning vigilantsm? You mean you would be in favor of someone speeding to actually aprehend/identify a criminal? I am surprised to say the least.
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The person that did this is concealing more than just a murder. He's drunk/high/hyped...... there is more to this...... and unless the guy turns himself in, it will take some real police work to find him/her/it.
@komoispropaganda  Seriously, wouldn't you? If you witnessed a hit and run and others were tending to the victim, wouldn't you chase after them to get the plate number? Seems like the right thing to do to me. I'm being serious.Â
Yes lakeview, I would. I'm just surprised to see it comming from you. I figured you for the 'wait for response from police' kind of person.
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I apolagize if I offended you.
followed him or her...
This intersection has traffic cameras. Is it possible to go back and look to see if the license plate can be obtained?
If the driver was so impatient as to go around the vehicle in front of him, proper gear may not have helped the cyclist. Â If someone ahead of you is slow to start moving, it may be that they remain stopped because a pedestrian, cyclist, child or someone in a wheelchair is crossing. Â This tragic accident could have happened in daylight as well as darkness. Â Think before you decide to go around a stopped vehicle in front of you. Â Â
This poor woman who was killed most likely has a family and I am sure they are very upset.. Yes, she should have been wearing proper reflective clothing or had a light so motorists could see her better. People if you are out especially walking/biking wear the right stuff so people can see you. Â Most important is that a woman lost her life and it could have been preventable. Â I pray for her and her family. In one split second our life can change so be kind to one another.Â
@flygal  The victim is not at fault. The driver of the pickup who illegally passed the lead car and hit the woman is at fault.Â
 @lakeview OK Mr. Judge and lawyer all wise man!
So I am wondering... what if she wasn't deceased when vehicle #1 first hit her? What if vehicle #2 and 3 were the reason why she died at the scene. Does that mean that even though they stopped and vehicle #1 didn't that they will be charged for her death as well?Â
 @PrairieDawn Not generally. If it was unavoidable / they couldn't see her when they were driving due to her being on the pavement it won't usually be classified as their fault. It's sort of like when someone commits suicide off a bridge and they hit your car on the way down. They stopped and gave a statement which is what the cops want. If the first guy were innocent (She had no lights on / was running the red ) then he probably wouldn't be in too much trouble if he had actually stopped and talked to the cops. People get angry when they do stupid stuff though. I stepped out to walk across the street on a walk light once and someone turned right, hit me, and then flipped me off and drove away. It was an old dude and I was about 13 so I didn't really know what the heck to do. Luckily it only left a bruise but dang, it definitely could have been worse. I can still see that guys face too, he was so mad that I was walking across the street when I was suppose to.Â
 @quidproquo  @PrairieDawn How do you know the first person who hit her saw her? You are pouring BS out.
@WhatdidIsay?  Do you even read the articles before posting comments? The first person who hit her "rev [ed] the engine and then went around the first vehicle" that was stopped to let her pass in the intersection. My lordy... Â
It seems about half the comments here are blaming the bicyclist for being killed by a hit and run driver. These are the same insensitive idiots that blame a rape victim for wearing a dress, or walking at night. I hope you all are collectively hit by a bus.
 @Bellevue Scott Now that is one of the dumbest comments I have seen all year! Are you really that stupid? Hitting someone crossing the street on a red light, you are comparing to a rape? You need some serious mental help my friend!
 @WhatdidIsay? Reading comprehension. You need it.
 @WhatdidIsay?  It would help if you read the complete thread and the entire context.  I'm quoting Bellevue Scott: "It seems about half the comments here are blaming the bicyclist for being killed by a hit and run driver. These are the same insensitive idiots that blame a rape victim for wearing a dress".  He's talking about misplacing blame-- not comparing it to a rape.
 @Bellevue Scott Same sort of people who assume everyone woman who is raped was asking for it in some way.  Usually people who believe in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_hypothesis . Everyone who has something bad happen to them must have deserved it in some way.Â
 @Bellevue Scott Chances are they couldn't fit their fat behinds on a bike hence just being jealous
Maybe it's time for bicycles to stay OFF the road???Â
 @Evergreen Maybe vehicles should learn to be patient instead of being in such a hurry to cross an intersection. i hope they find the person, take away their vehicle and take away their license.Â
@jd94b.....Vehicles will never learn. **facepalm**.
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 @Evergreen Your hostility towards bikers is disturbing and scary. Might is right blah blah.
Bikes and cars coexist fine in several countries and have for years.Â
 @Evergreen Maybe it's time to catch the hit and run murderer and give him a 60 year sentence
 @Larry*X*K  @Evergreen If history is an indicator most likely he/she will get a tiny slap on the hand.
 @Evergreen Why? In the absence of bicycle lanes do bicyclists not have the right to use roads as well, as long as they are able to keep from interfering with traffic by going too slow?
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Keep in mind that this accident occurred at an intersection, and the woman could have simply been crossing the street.Â
 @martycn I don't mind cyclist on the road if there is no lane for them; especially if the paved shoulders haven't been cleaned. What I do mind is a gaggle of cyclists taking up an entire lane 4 in a row and not allowing traffic to move thus causing a backup on a single lane road. When you got a backup that bad, the courteous thing to do is to move single file to allow traffic to get by. I am in no way blaming the woman who died however I am simply stating my view on how some (not all) cyclist behave while on the the road.Â
 @PrairieDawn  "She might have been one of the good ones I guess" Â
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There were at least four vehicles at the scene of this death. The driver who stopped, the pick up truck killer, and the other two vehicles who stopped after they hit the lady.Â
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At 7:30 PM on a week night, weren't there other vehicles at that intersection? Didn't anyone have the thought of following the truck to get a better description and / or license plate number?  Were they too busy getting those after Christmas bargains to "get involved"?
It just wasn't her day. RIP.
so if the woman died because she broke the helmet law is it still vehicular homicide?
 @dorimonsonfan There is no maandatory helmet law for bicyclists in Snohomish County or the city of Monroe.
@dorimonsonfan ...I think the short answer is "yes", with or without a helmet being worn by the deceased.
Very sad and preventable accident. RIP to the victim and condolences to her family and friends. Although the victim used poor judgement by riding at night, in the rain, at a very busy intersection, the good-ol'-boy hit and run driver needs to sober up and turn himself in, pay up and take his share of responsibility for this deadly accident. I'll bet a dollar to a donut that he's got a rap sheet a mile long too, which may be why the zombie fled the scene. Turn yourself in, LOSER...before they track you down and take you...(it'll go a lot better for you, trust me). Â
 @TreeTopFlyer Why did the victim use poor judgement? This was a crosswalk. It could have been a pedestrian crossing the road. Too many people in this state simply do not follow the rules of the road and either on their cell phones or are in too much of a hurry to think about anyone but themselves.
@jd94b ..you are so right regarding the general bad drivers and selfishness that plagues our society out there, but again, the victim used poor judgement by riding at night in poor conditions in the first place. No details on whether or not she was walking her bike in the (alleged) crosswalk or if she had a green light.  I hope they catch this hit and run psychopath soon.Â
It's really awful this guy chose to use the gas pedal instead of his horn to vent his frustration. I hope he is found soon.
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 @barkingmad I have seen a lot more road rage during this festive season. I saw a pizza delivery driver almost mow down a family in front of Toys R Us trying to get to the store next to it - Pet Smart (Tukwila) all so that he could deliver his pizza. He almost hit my husband's car then blamed us for not using a turn signal (which we did) while trying to park. I got his plate # and contacted the pizza delivery company to advise them of what kind of people they have working for them. Driving like a seething lunatic anytime is uncalled for.Â
Hit and Run Driver turn yourself in now.. else when you are caught I would not expect any sympathy from any of us... likely most of us will want to put you on a bike and run you over a dozen times before letting you croke!
 @Freespeech Too late.  Sympathy was lost when he ran from the scene.Â
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Why, oh why must people be so impatient! I have taken vacations in numerous other states and except for Florida, I have never seen drivers so impatient as the ones in this state. Is ANY accident worth the two minutes you save in getting to your destination? This passing stopped vehicles on the right is one that really frustrates me as I used to work in the call center of an insurance company and received many, many calls where the accident was caused by this scenario. Not all of them involved fatalities, of course, but even so it constantly amazed me that people are unable to wait for the vehicle in front of them to proceed. And then most of them pretend that they did nothing wrong. Apparently they think that just because "everyone else" does it, it's okay. This is also what scares me when I stop for someone to cross the road, especially a child that is too short to be seen. Will that car behind me choose to go around instead of stopping? That's why I try to position myself more to the right of my lane as I stop. I've even had people honk angrily at me for doing so even as the person is crossing in the exact spot where the vehicle would have struck them had they gone around me.
 @justathought You should not stop for a child to cross the street UNLESS it's at a designated crosswalk. Doing so endangers, not only the child, but everyone in the near vicinity.
 @Stock Woodie  @justathought reading your comments endangers peoples intelligence
 @Stock Woodie  @IronWafflez Here is the quote I responded to:  "You should not stop for a child to cross the street UNLESS it's at a designated crosswalk."   Yes, I am slow, and proud of it, especially if a child is trying to cross the street ANYWHERE.
 @IronWafflez If the kid jumps into the middle of the street, then of course you try to stop. Are you slow? But if a kid is standing on the side of the road (not in a crosswalk), waiting for cars to go by, then no, you should NOT stop. Stopping in the middle of the road endangers everyone near that situation.
 @sunnysandiego If you had any intelligence you would have agreed with Stock Woodie since the law states you should only stop at designated crosswalks to allow pedestrians to cross the road. Think about the consequences of stopping in the middle of a road to let someone cross.Â
 @Stock Woodie  So you should just go ahead and plow over the child?  Are you talking about a jaywalking child? And what about squirrels or dogs and cats? You're saying you'll just go right over because someone may rear-end you? Most people behind you will see what's up and slow down!
 @sunnysandiego  @justathought Yes. It's a great way to get rear ended, or better yet, having a car next to you (going around you or the other lane) plowing over someone crossing because you stopped in the middle of the road. Never a good idea.