Girl, 14, seriously injured in hit-and-run crash
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SALEM, Ore. – A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash in Salem Friday night.
It happened in the intersection of Lancaster Drive SE and Durbin Avenue at around 7:45 p.m., according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Don Thomson.
A pickup truck driver accelerated though the intersection to try to beat a red light when the truck hit Kathryn Staudinger. She was crossing Lancaster Drive with a girlfriend, who avoided being hit by the truck.
The crosswalk had a “walk” signal when the two girls were crossing the street, Thomson said.
"My brother was actually driving after he saw the car had hit her and taken off," said Virginia Ruiz, who lives near the intersection. "He slammed on his breaks and helped her. And there were people around and she kept saying she's cold. People kept taking off their jackets to cover her up."
Staudinger was taken to a Salem hospital, and later moved to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.
"I'm in disbelief," said Ruiz. "I can't believe somebody would actually do that to a child and just continue to go."
The driver of the pickup truck continued driving northbound on Lancaster after hitting Staudinger. Witnesses described the truck as a 1980s model Ford F150. Different witnesses described the color as light brown, tan or possibly rusty. The truck had been lifted and had loud exhaust pipes, Thomson said. It should have right front damage.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Deputy Stacy Rejaian at 503-576-0651.
My deepest sympathy to the girl and her shocked friend accompanying her. The two were responsible enough to not walk unaccompanied after dark.Â
It is horrible enough that a driver is so impaired not to see 1 person in a cross walk, evermore horrible not to see 2, and then not to stop to avoid being found guilty from such impairment is too often the reckless coward's destiny.Â
There should be reward money or a bounty on this person/pick-up to be given to anyone with info. And, if anyone had the info and got the money, it could then be given to the victim(s).Â
"He slammed on his breaks...."
Come on, KVAL, I could write better than this in high school!Â
What is with all the hit and run drivers in Salem?
@Dianne Pitt DUII drivers, or wanted on warrants.
@Hallyscomet @Dianne Pitt ---some barfly scum so drunk on a Friday night that he didn't even see two people in the crosswalk. POs would do well to check their case roster of the newly paroled no doubt.
I'm sure a traffic light cam caught it at some point.
@Stooge Newton ---hope so. 'cuz I fear that some people out and about on Friday night might have warrants out for their arrest or were drunk while on parole, or were driving without a license and will not come forward with information because of any and all of the above...especially the passenger in the pick-up.