Crime

Homeless man seriously hurt after being hit by truck in Kennewick

Kennewick police investigate the scene where a pedestrian was hit by a truck early Wednesday morning on the 400 block of North Yelm Street.
Kennewick police investigate the scene where a pedestrian was hit by a truck early Wednesday morning on the 400 block of North Yelm Street. Courtesy Kennewick Police

A 39-year-old man was seriously hurt after being hit by a pickup on Yelm Street in Kennewick early Wednesday.

A 26-year-old driver was heading home from work about 1:15 a.m. when he hit the man who had apparently stepped into the lane of traffic, Commander Isaac Merkl told the Tri-City Herald.

The driver initially thought he hit a garbage can, but stopped a short distance away and realized he hit a person and turned back, Merkl said.

Officers started life-saving aid on the man believed to be homeless. He was initially taken to a Tri-Cities hospital before being flown to a hospital in the Seattle area.

His condition was not immediately available at midday Wednesday.

The driver was not intoxicated, and cooperated with police, said Merkl.

His Ford F-150 truck was impounded pending an investigation by the department’s traffic unit.

Anyone with any information about the collision is asked to contact the Kennewick Police Department using the non-emergency dispatch number of 509-628-0333.

The man was hit on the 400 block of Yelm, near the First Lutheran Church of Kennewick and Yelm Park, where some homeless residents like to gather.

This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM.

CP
Cameron Probert
Tri-City Herald
Cameron Probert covers breaking news for the Tri-City Herald, where he tries to answer reader questions about why police officers and firefighters are in your neighborhood. He studied communications at Washington State University.https://mycheckout.tri-cityherald.com/subscribe?ofrgp_id=394&g2i_or_o=Event&g2i_or_p=Reporter&cid=news_cta_0.99-1mo-15.99-on-article_202404
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW