READER REPORTS: Hit-run help sought (update – rider comes forward); found bicycle and backpack

Three reader reports received today:

HIT-RUN HELP SOUGHT: Paige is asking for help finding the motorcycle rider who hit her car around 8:30 this morning near Erskine/Dawson:

This morning a motorcyclist hit our parked car … and drove off. Our neighbor was able to snap a picture of the guy and a bystander who it looks like saw what happened. Neither of them thought to knock on our door or leave a note or anything. I’m attaching the picture here and am hoping someone can help us identify this person. 561-251-7185.

(License-plate redaction by sender)

Temporary police-report # is M0334383. Please contact Paige directly with any information.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Paige reports they’ve heard directly from the rider and are “getting it sorted out.”

FOUND BICYCLE: Pamela found this on Alki Point:

She describes it as “really rusty.” If it might be yours, email us and we’ll connect you.

FOUND BACKPACK: Same goes for this backpack, discovered by a texter:

found this backpack near the northern entrance of Fauntleroy Park just now.

Oerthehillz August 10, 2024 (10:02 pm)

Pokémon, Go!

Pauline August 11, 2024 (7:02 am)

Yikes. Must be a newbie to crash a parked car…

Runner August 11, 2024 (7:21 am)

That sucks! I just don’t understand some people.

WSCurmudgeon August 11, 2024 (9:17 am)

The two photos, as they are displayed on my Android phone, show the lower body of one likely adult human wearing men’s clothing. His/her face isn’t visible. It seems that that person is the motorcyclist. No second person is visible. It’s not clear to me how the pix assist in identifying the rider or the bystander.

Neighbor August 11, 2024 (9:24 am)

I’ve lived in the area a long time but despite it being the shortest route to Erskine I’ve been avoiding it a long time after too many close calls. Line of sight from Dawson to Erskine is blocked by foliage and people driving down Erskine go way too fast and you cannot see them without pulling into the street. With that extra speed and reduced line of sight, when they round the corner onto Dawson it can be hard to see a parked car or an oncoming car in what’s a narrow one lane street if cars are parked on both sides. That said, there’s absolutely no reason for not driving cautiously and leaving contact info on the windshield or with a neighbor should a collision occur. But for the future, lowering the foliage and allowing parking only on one side might help to prevent a repeat.

WSlite August 11, 2024 (11:37 am)

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with a hit and run. Those are pretty big pieces of the motorcycle leftover. I would keep those and have SPD run it for fingerprints. Looks like rider was not wearing gloves. Hopefully your other neighbors have security cameras set up too that can put this person on the motorcycle. Again, so sorry you’re dealing with this. Sucks having to be the one taking responsibility paying for someone else actually doing the damage. Seems more and more situations occur like this nowadays…people not wanting to own up and take responsibility. Personally, I’ve had two occasions where someone hit my parked car and never left their information. Hope your motorcycle person has some bad karma sent their way.

CJ August 11, 2024 (1:15 pm)

Given the amount of coolant/oil at the crash scene the motorcyclist wouldnt be able to ride very far before the bike conked out. Be on the lookout for a broken Suzuki GSXR dumped near by.

TLV August 11, 2024 (4:19 pm)

I could hear the motorcycle racing up Erskine from my front porch. Very very loud. The boom when it hit the parked car was so loud I thought it was a backfire. I’m shocked the driver was able to walk away from such a high speed crash!!