Car accidents are never happy events, but one of the cruelest types of wrecks is the hit-and-run collision. The victim is often deprived of the opportunity to recover damages for any injuries suffered unless the hit-and-run driver can be found, and that outcome oftentimes depends upon the police. The Vancouver police have brought at least one such case to a satisfactory conclusion by finding and arresting the man responsible for a hit-and-run car accident that badly injured a local motorcyclist.
The crash occurred on July 30, 2017, at about 9:30 p.m. on State Route 500. The motorcyclist was westbound on Highway 500 when a black sedan similar to a Honda Accord swerved into his lane. The cyclist was forced to swerve and accelerate in an effort to avoid the sedan. The sedan approached the motorcycle at a high rate of speed, striking it from behind and throwing the cyclist to the ground. The motorcyclist suffered several broken ribs and a fractured shoulder blade. The black sedan then left the scene without stopping.
Police found evidence at the scene that enabled them to tentatively identify the make of the sedan as a 2003-2007 Mitsubishi Galant. On July 31, police found a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant with fresh collision damage parked near a residence in Vancouver. Detectives used accident reconstruction techniques and evidence found at the scene to confirm that the vehicle matched the one that hit the cyclist. Detectives arrested the owner of the car, who allegedly admitted to the police that he was driving the car when it struck the motorcycle.
Not every hit-and-run case ends in such a satisfactory manner. Nevertheless, anyone who has been injured by or lost a loved one to a hit-and-run driver may wish to consult a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. An experienced attorney can employ investigators who are knowledgeable in police investigation techniques and accident reconstruction in an effort to find the hit-and-run driver. If the driver is located, a victim may wish to commence legal action in hopes of recovering damages for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Source: Sky Valley Chronicle, "State Patrol Arrests Hit & Run Driving Suspect,"Aug. 12, 2017
