Updates: Hit-and-Run Driver Search, Timing of Helicopter Recovery Search for Mt. Si Skydiver

Living Snoqualmie has gotten a few inquiries regarding the recovery mission of the presumed deceased skydiver on Mt. Si and the King County Sheriff’s Office search for the driver of the suspected hit-and-run vehicle that took the life of North Bend resident, Lucy Pieczatkowski, on New Year’s Day.

King County Sheriff’s Sergeant, Cindi West, gave a brief update on both cases today.

Search for Hit-and-Run Driver Continues

The search for the driver of the suspected hit-and-run white truck continues, but no one is in custody yet.  Detectives are keeping details in the case “close to the vest” as the investigation is ongoing.  West said what she can report today, January 9th, is that at this time detectives “are following up on tips that have come in.”

Detectives recovered the suspect vehicle, a later model white Ford F150, on January 2nd in North Bend, but the driver has not been found yet.  The suspect vehicle was traveling southbound on 394th PL SE near North Bend  on January 1st at about 3AM when it struck and killed Lucy Pieczatkowski.  If you saw the truck anywhere in the area on New Year’s Eve night or early New Year’s Day, you are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311.  For more details and photo of the suspected vehicle click HERE.

Status of Future Helicopter Recovery Search For Mt. Si Skydiver

Sgt. West said the timing of future helicopter searches of Mt. Si’s steep peaks in an effort to recover the body of skydiver, Kurt Ruppert, who disappeared on January 3rd after jumping out of a helicopter, may continue to be hampered by weather conditions on and surrounding the mountain. Search and rescue crews did search a 9-mile area for four days, hoping to find Ruppert alive.  After extensively searching a narrowed 1/2 mile area pinpointed by Ruppert’s cell phone on Sunday, the search was concluded. It is presumed that Ruppert perished.

Sunday night as the ground search concluded,  Sgt. West said as the weather permitted, helicopters would begin a recovery search of the steep, high cliffs of Mt. Si (inaccessible by a ground) for Ruppert.  Today she reported that the KCSO is unsure when the helicopter recovery search will begin.  Wind and fog are making conditions difficult for a helicopter mission.  Additionally, a lowered snow level of 500 feet this week means extra snow on Mt. Si, which limits what crews can see from the air.