Crash, Crime, Hillside

Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office seeks driver who fled scene after injuring cyclist in Hillside

The suspect vehicle. Photo: Washington County Sheriff’s Office

HILLSIDE – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to help them find a driver who witnesses say fled the scene after striking a bicyclist on NW Hillside Road on Saturday, May 11.

According to a media release from the Wash. Co. Sheriff’s Office, the unidentified driver of a champagne-colored newer Mercedes convertible is described as a baseball-cap wearing white male in his 60’s with a “Tom Selleck” style mustache.

Witnesses say that around 2 p.m., the driver struck a male cyclist who had stopped to read a map on the shoulder of Hillside Road near the NW Clapshaw Hill Road intersection in the community of Hillside.

The cyclist was knocked to the ground and left bleeding from the leg, with his clothing torn.

The driver left the scene without attempting to stop and check on the cyclist, according to the media release, giving the injured cyclist “the finger” as he drove away.

The sheriff’s office says that the same suspect was seen driving recklessly, swerving into oncoming lanes of traffic, nearly running a motorcyclist off the road on NW Old Clapshaw Hill Road.

The suspect was also seen driving recklessly, swerving into oncoming lanes of traffic. 

A short video was obtained by one of the witnesses of the suspect vehicle; it shows the vehicle traveling down the wrong lane for an extended period of time.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or driver is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Officeat their non-emergency dispatch line at 503-629-0111.

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Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.

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