On November 18, 2024, at 6:49 am, officers from the Snoqualmie-North Bend Police Department were dispatched to the report of a person lying in the roadway near the intersection of Cedar Falls Way SE and Salish Avenue SE in North Bend. Eastside Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, a 32-year-old male was found seriously injured from what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident. A side mirror and auto glass in the roadway indicated the suspect vehicle was a gold passenger car. Medics transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
Two hours later, an officer patrolling neighborhoods near the incident located a gold Toyota Rav 4 that was missing a side mirror and had heavy damage to the passenger side window and windshield. A short time later, a 25-year-old female was arrested for vehicular assault and felony hit-and-run.
The driver told investigators that she had been distracted by her cell phone at the time of the accident. The driver returned to the scene but, upon seeing police and fire department vehicles, chose not to stop and instead returned home.
Snoqualmie-North Bend Police Chief Brian Lynch shared insights on the case, highlighting the serious consequences of the driver’s actions. “It strengthens the court case against the driver if they come back, see the police at the scene, and then leave again without reporting the accident, which is what happened in this case. It looks like this driver was never going to call the police, and she took steps to conceal the vehicle in her driveway. It was the great police work by our officer that caught a glimpse of the vehicle in the driveway partially blocked by other vehicles.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of distracted driving. Chief Lynch emphasized its role in local accidents: “Distracted driving is the cause of many of our vehicular accidents, as well as in many of our speeding infractions as well. Cell phone use is still a problem in Washington State. It is disappointing that after nearly seven years of safety campaigns and public education, we still have incidents like this happen where the life of another person is now in jeopardy because a driver can’t put their phone down.”
This location, Cedar Falls Way, has been noted as a problematic area for drivers and pedestrians. Chief Lynch added, “Cedar Falls Way is a common street that we receive complaints of speed or aggressive driving on. The road is very dark along this stretch of road which adds to the risk that pedestrians take while walking along Cedar Falls Way. When you add rain to the equation, visibility is extremely difficult even when you aren’t looking at your cell phone. If you remember, we had a pedestrian struck and killed by a vehicle a year ago along Cedar Falls Way.”
The victim remains in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. This incident underscores the importance of road safety and the responsibility of all drivers to stay vigilant, especially in areas with known risks.
