Finley pedestrian hit by 2 cars dies a month later

A 21-year-old Yakima man died this week after clinging to life for nearly a month.

Jesse Nickens, 21, was hit by two cars on Highway 397 in Finley while walking in the middle of the northbound lane late Nov. 10.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson said investigators likely will never know why Nickens was in the road. He hadn’t been able to talk to troopers, Thorson said.

Investigators said the drivers were not at fault.

Family and friends said on the fundraising site GoFundMe that Nickens seemed to be getting better.

He was responding to commands and breathing on his own, and transferred to a long-term care facility in Idaho, they said.

But days ago, his mother reported that Jesse took a turn for the worse. He died Tuesday.

“His system crashed and he was put back onto life support,” Susanna Nickens wrote. “He is resting comfortably at this time, and we believe he knows that he is loved. We are humbled by the love and support you have shown us during this difficult time.”

The former football player for Yakima’s Davis High School loved being part of a team, said his family.

They recounted his smile, friendly nature and love of family, but he’d struggled in recent years with medical issues.

The GoFundMe account has raised $3,275. To make a donation: bit.ly/JesseNickens.

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Finley pedestrian hit by 2 cars dies a month later."