Search Underway for Driver Who Hit Teen in Grandview

The Yakima County Sheriff's Office is searching for a driver who struck and killed a 17-year-old boy in Grandview on October 4. The teen has been identified as Israel Ramirez of Mabton.

THE BOY WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE ROADWAY

A press release from the office says deputies, medics and officers from the surrounding area responded on October 4 at about 10:00 pm to the 3000 block of Stover Road in Grandview where they found the teen dead in the roadway. Before they arrived on the scene the person who called 911 says the teen was hit by a passing vehicle that left the area. Deputies are searching for the driver today.

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THE TEEN LEFT A NEARBY RESIDENCE JUST BEFORE THE CRASH

The press release says the teen had just left a nearby residence on foot and was "lying in the roadway when the reporting party located the juvenile." Deputies then say while calling for help, the reporting party witnessed the hit-and-run fatality.

SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING IS THAT YOU?

Detective R. Garcia with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is investigating this fatality hit and run and is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the vehicle. He can be reached by calling the Sheriff’s Office dispatch at 574-2500.

HUNDREDS OF PEDESTRIANS ARE KILLED EVERY YEAR

Each year people in Washington are killed by fatality hit and run drivers. Information from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows an average of 1900 fatal hit-and-run crashes in the United States ever year. Foundation officials say the number highlights the prevalence of the issue with a majority of the victims being pedestrians and bicyclists.