When it comes to hit-and-run accidents, it seems like the negligent driver will say anything to get out of being held liable. But a Yacolt man may have taken it a little too far when he asked his wife to report their SUV stolen after he had caused a serious car accident that has a 20-year-old Vancouver, Washington man clinging to life.
The accident happened just days ago at the intersection of Northeast Andresen Road and Fourth Boulevard in Vancouver. According to the driver, he had a green light when he entered the intersection and struck the 20-year-old victim. But police tell a different story, saying that the man ran a red light before colliding with the victim.
While this part of the story differs, everyone agrees that instead of stopping and calling paramedics, the 28-year-old driver is said to have fled the scene, abandoning his SUV in a McDonald’s parking lot 1,500 feet away from the scene of the accident. He is then said to have called his wife and asked her to report the SUV stolen in an attempt to secure an alibi, police say.
While the 28-year-old man awaits his arraignment in a few days, the family and friends of the victim must wait to see if their loved one’s condition improves. Although they are currently holding onto hope that he will recover from his serious injuries, a senior deputy prosecutor says that it’s unknown if he will survive. If he does not, the charges against the driver could escalate to vehicular homicide.
Source: The Columbian, “Man accused in hit-and-run asked wife to report SUV as stolen, prosecutor says,” Paris Achen, Mar. 14, 2014
