Woman Killed in Crash but Prosecutor Declines Charges
A driver in a deadly crash in Yakima on May 24 will not be charged with a crime.
Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic released his decision in the case on Tuesday.
THE CRASH HAPPENED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR
In late May of this year 27-year-old Carollee Boss-Fisher was struck and killed as she was crossing Tieton Drive at 40th Avenue. Police say she was walking in the crosswalk when the driver of a vehicle traveling eastbound on Tieton hit her at a slow speed. Capt. Jay Seely says the driver, identified as Danny Van Wagoner was making a right turn onto 40th Avenue when Boss-Fisher was struck. Wagoner apparently didn't see Boss-Fisher crossing the street.
THE PROSECUTOR ISSUED HIS RULING ON TUESDAY
On Tuesday Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic released his decision not to charge Wagoner with a crime.
In a news release Brusic says "because there is no reason to suspect and no evidence that Mr. Van Wagoner was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the collision, we have narrowed our inquiry to whether he operated the vehicle in a reckless manner or with disregard for the safety of others. Reckless manner requires that a person operate a motor vehicle in a rash or heedless manner, indifferent to the consequences. Under this set of facts, we have no evidence that the driver drove rashly not caring about those around him."
As a result of the investigation Brusic says hes' declining "to file criminal charges stemming from this tragic incident."
THOUSANDS OF PEDESTRIANS DIE EVERY YEAR
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA in 2019, the most recent year statistics are available, 6, 025 pedestrians died in traffic related crashes. They say that means someone was killed every 85 minutes in traffic crashes in the United States in 2019.