Police say a 23-year-old was struck and killed by a suspected hit and run DUI driver on the Montlake Bridge early New Year’s Day.
An 18-year-old suspected of smashing a white SUV into the man before fleeing the scene is in custody for investigation of hit and run.
According to dispatch radio reports and the SPD brief on the early Friday incident, police received multiple reports from 911 callers of a man in the roadway and swinging what appeared to be a belt near the bridge around 1 AM Friday morning. “Minutes later, callers reported the man had been hit by a car and now appeared unresponsive in the roadway,” the SPD brief on the incident reads. “A passing citizen began CPR on the victim and officers took over when they arrived.” UPDATE: CHS has removed details of the collision reported by 911 callers. We’ll have further updated as we report on charges in the case.
Seattle Fire medics also attempted life-saving measures, but the 23-year-old died at the scene in the bridge’s northbound lanes. Police believe the man was struck near E Shelby and Montlake Blvd.
The suspect vehicle with a damaged front end was quickly located north of the crash scene near Husky Stadium where the driver was seen fleeing near the arena. A search of the area was not successful as the sheriff’s Guardian One helicopter was not available and a K9 unit was also not immediately available at the scene.
Police identified the owner of the SUV registered to a Broadmoor address and, according to the department’s update on the case, police then contacted the owners of the car, “and thereby learned the suspected driver was at a nearby address.” It is not clear if the suspect was taken into custody there or near the crime scene.
Police say the 18-year-old was placed under arrest for felony hit and run and investigation of DUI and booked just before 7 AM into the King County Jail. Jail records show only the hit and run investigation booking. The suspect driver remained jailed as of Saturday morning.
The bridge was closed through the night in both directions during the response and investigation.
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Great so we can’t get a K9 Unit to stop a hit and run suspect but we can get a battalion of officers in riot gear to attack protestors. I’m not for defunding the police but seeing as SPD never responds to anything, I’m not too worried since they have never done a thing at all except direct traffic at sports events.
Actually, what’s sad is that no one responded to calls from witnesses who reported a mentally disturbed man acting out in the middle of a busy street on a black, rainy night. A death could have been saved if the city had responded to those calls.