Kent Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a driver involved in a hit and run that injured a teenage pedestrian earlier this month near Park Orchard Elementary School.
The incident happened on Tuesday, Dec. 2 between 6:50 and 6:55 a.m. in the 11400 block of SE 232nd Street (map below), police said. A 15-year-old male was crossing the street from north to south outside of a crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle and knocked to the ground while walking toward his school bus pickup location.
Police said the driver initially stopped and offered the teen a ride to school, but sped away after the teen asked for an ambulance. The victim was unable to obtain a license plate number but believed it may have started with the letters CO.
The teen continued to school and was later transported to a local hospital, where his family contacted police to report the incident. He was treated for injuries to his wrist that later required surgery, police said.
The victim described the suspect vehicle as a dark gray Toyota sport utility vehicle. He described the driver as a Black female in her 50s, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a stocky build and wearing a hijab or similar head covering. He said the driver spoke English with an accent and that the vehicle fled toward 112th Way, according to police.
Despite investigative efforts, the vehicle and driver have not been identified, the department said.
Anyone with information is asked to email KPDTipLine@kentwa.gov or call the Kent Police Tip Line at (253) 856-5808. Anyone who was involved in the incident and wants to come forward is asked to call 911 or the non emergency dispatch line at (253) 852-2121.
Police asked that tips not be left in online comments because that could impact the investigation.
The Kent Police Department shared the image below, whichshows a similar vehicle type but is not a photo of the actual suspect vehicle and the color may not represent the actual vehicle involved:
