Lynnwood police traffic collision investigators are asking for the public’s help in finding the driver who struck a 63-year-old Mukilteo man on Olympic View Drive near 178th Place Southwest Dec. 22.
According to police, the victim was on a bicycle and the truck hit him from behind, paused for a moment, and then sped off northbound on Olympic View Drive. A witness driving behind the suspect vehicle stopped to help the cyclist and call 911.
The cyclist’s injuries were serious, police said, noting he sustained multiple broken bones. “Thanks to the Good Samaritan who stopped to render aid,” said police spokesperson Joanna Small, “we were able to get this description of the suspect vehicle: a late 1980s to early 1990s dark green Ford F-150 or 250 with “FORD” stamped across the tailgate. There is likely some damage to the passenger-side headlight area as the headlight lens was broken in the collision.”
Anyone with information should contact Officer McQuoid: RMcQuoid@lynnwoodwa.gov.
Curious as to why LPD didn’t get this info out much sooner. Twenty days later, to both make the public aware of accident and ask for assistance in finding the truck, is much too late. OVD, in this straight stretch near 178th, gets little to no speeding patrol attn. It needs to be a priority and has for a very long time. LPD is very aware of this. It’s become “let’s see how fast I can go” stretch. Just last night at 10 pm, four vehicles were racing, heading north, two across, in this very area. Speeders know no police patrol or cameras are watching.
I tried multiple times in the aftermath of this accident to get more information about this incident, to no avail. As Char says, speeders are VERY frequent on this stretch of OVD. I often think that because the east side of OVD along here is in Lynnwood jurisdiction and the west side falls into Edmonds jurisdiction it ends up that neither police department takes responsibility for speed control.
Hi Cheryl,
My name is Fred Smith, I’m the person who was hit by the truck. Let me know if you’d like more information about the incident. After spinal surgery I’m out of the hospital and recovering at home.
Kind regards,
Fred
Hi Fred,
Glad to hear that you are recovering. How extensive were your injuries? I had spinal surgery many years ago (disc) and it took quite a while to fully recover. I wish you well. Be sure to do your therapy – it makes a big difference.
Hi Cheryl. I had a burst fracture of L2, two other broken vertebraes, two broken ribs, and a closed head injury. I’ve lost the ability to taste certain foods and my short term memory has been affected. I had spinal fusion surgery and am continuing to recover. I’m back on my bike and hiking a bit. My thanks go to the individual who stopped to render aid, the incredible caregivers and neuro team at Providence in Everett, my family, and the Lynwood PD.
OVD, aka the Edmonds Speedway, is dangerous: blind corners, hidden driveways, mailboxes a foot from the road, more and heavier traffic all the time… I frequently walk from the corner of 196th up to my home, a bit north of Warf St, and on any given day I see cars 10 or even 15 mph over the limit, simply by watching the “Your Speed” flasher for a minute or two. It’s a bad accident – another one! – waiting to happen.
I actually witnessed another cyclist get hit by a truck on Olympic View Drive last summer. That truck also left the scene. It was pretty close to the middle school.