A memorial at the site of Arsema Barekew’s death outside the Central District middle school

The Seattle Police Department says the death of 12-year-old Arsema Barekew who was hit and killed by a runaway SUV outside her Washington Middle School in March was a terrible accident and not a criminal act by the vehicle’s driver.

Thursday, the department announced it has completed its investigation into the March 6th tragedy.

“Detectives worked with prosecutors for King County and Seattle and are unable to determine any applicable criminal charges at this time,” an SPD spokesperson said in Thursday’s announcement.

Instead, four parking violations were issued to the 51-year-old woman including municipal code 11.70.140 — “Stopping and securing car when parking.”

The completion of the investigation comes as Barekew’s family has said they have felt neglected by police, the city, and the school district in the wake of the tragedy. They held a memorial march to remember their loved one earlier this month.

While the SPD announcement brings closure on the investigation, it could clear the way for a new phase of litigation though no lawsuit has been announced.

SPD says its senior leadership and Community Service Officers have “met with the family of the deceased and offered available resources.”

The SPD announcement provides more complete details of the crash.

CHS reported here on the Thursday afternoon incident as it unfolded just after 12:30 PM along 20th Place S, S Weller, and the school’s pick-up/drop-off area and parking lot. Police radio updates and witnesses described a terrible incident as a SUV parked outside the school and reportedly unattended began rolling downhill where the child was struck near S Weller.

Police said the student was on the sidewalk outside the school when she was struck and killed.

In its update this week, SPD says multiple students were nearly crushed by the 2018 GMC Acadia.

“Multiple students were walking on the sidewalk along 20th Place South when an unoccupied SUV rolled backwards towards them,” SPD reports. “The vehicle rolled onto the sidewalk, striking three students. Seattle Police and the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) responded and rendered aid to the students. SFD eventually pronounced one of the students deceased.”

The driver was evaluated at the scene. “A Drug Recognition Expert evaluated the vehicle owner and determined she was not impaired,” SPD says.

CHS reported here on the aftermath of Barekew’s death as the community around Washington has raised thousands of dollars to help support the family.

The area of 20th Place and Weller is an unusual and often crowded area where the WMS parking lot meets the city streets and the typically semi-truck filled area outside the neighboring Franz Bakery factory.

School district officials have not addressed why the student was in the area but said she was on her way to recess at the time.

“We want to assure our community that supervision was in place at the time of the incident,” the district said in a statement sent to CHS. “This occurred while students were walking to recess after lunch, which is a regular part of their day.”

City officials, meanwhile, have said that efforts were recently made around the school to improve street safety and better protect walking and biking areas from cars with a Neighborhood Greenway project completed late last year around Washington Middle School, including curb ramp upgrades, speed humps, and new signs. Under the project, better connections to a Central Park Trail utilizing 20th Pl S are listed but apparently not completed.

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