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KENNEWICK -- Kennewick police are finishing their investigation of another hit-and-run where a pedestrian was hit while in a crosswalk.
Kara Schweikert, 26, of Kennewick, was at the corner of Canal Drive and Kellogg Street at 9:40 am. Friday when she was struck while crossing Canal Drive, said Officer Tony Valdez.
The hit-and-run crash occurred just two days after an elementary school girl was hit while crossing the street in a crosswalk after school.
Schweikert was hit by a silver or tan SUV, possibly a Jeep Cherokee, that was on Kellogg Street turning left onto Canal. She was knocked to the ground and the driver of the SUV stopped, backed up and drove around her while she lay in the roadway, Valdez said.
"If he didn't back up, he would have ran over me," Schweikert told the Herald just after being released from the hospital. "I thought I was going to get hit by another car. Three cars that were right behind the Jeep just drove by me as I was on the ground.
"I was grateful for the lady who stopped and helped me," she added.
Schweikert said she's pretty banged up with severe road rash, a sprained ankle that's in an air cast and needed stitches on her head.
"There was only one witness that stuck around who saw me get hit," she said. "How fast that Jeep took off, I couldn't even see (if the driver was a man or woman). All I saw was the grill and asphalt."
Schweikert said she had a green light to cross the street and waited a second to see if the SUV was going to go but the driver waved her across.
"He waved, like 'go ahead,' but then another second later he was there hitting me," she said. "It doesn't even make sense. ... He stopped, it seemed like he backed up, but I could have gotten pushed forward more, and he like drove around me and sped off."
Kennewick police issued a news release at 9:30 p.m. Friday to report that the suspect vehicle involved in the hit-and-run was found and "the investigation is currently being completed." They also thanked "everyone who provided information on the collision." No additional information was released.
Police still are searching for the driver of a truck that hit a 10-year-old Kennewick girl on Wednesday at 27th Avenue and Olympia Street while she was walking home from Canyon View Elementary School.
Makayla Messinger escaped serious injuries when a white Ford truck, possibly with dual tires in the back, with a white canopy hit her while turning left onto Olympia Street. The truck is believed to be a 1998-2004 model year with damage to the front grill.
Makayla's father said she suffered a mild concussion and a black eye, but was recovering well and anxious to return to school.
Officer Valdez said it's important for pedestrians to remember to use the crosswalk -- which was done in both cases -- but also that crosswalks are not 100 percent safe.
Be cautious when crossing streets in marked crosswalks by making sure the road is clear in both directions before crossing and look before walking past stopped vehicles, he said.
"If a vehicle approaches, make eye contact with the driver to be sure (the driver) sees you before you cross," Valdez said. "Never cross just before a driver waves you on. Be sure all lanes are clear first."
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Kennewick police or Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers at 586-8477.
-- Paula Horton: 509-582-1556; phorton@tricityherald.com
