MACHIAS — Detectives are recommending felony charges against a driver accused of hitting a pedestrian and leaving her dead on a rural road near Lake Stevens in December.
They allege that the 32-year-old Lake Stevens man was drunk when he struck and killed Kathryn “Kay” J. Hyde-Donohue, 53.
Earlier that morning, the man had a confrontation with Everett police, and they warned him not to drive because he’d been drinking, according to court records. That was about 4:30 a.m. Dec. 4. Police believe the crash happened an hour later, but it wasn’t immediately reported.
About 3:30 p.m. that day, Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies were called to the man’s parents’ house for a domestic disturbance. There, someone showed them the man’s car. The windshield was shattered. Blood was visible inside, and at least one long hair was found stuck to the front of the car.
The man told police he thought he’d hit a deer along S. Machias Road. When the cops went to the location he described, they found Hyde-Donohue’s body, records show. She was wearing a red coat and a red hat.
The sheriff’s collision detectives recently completed their investigation and forwarded it to county prosecutors for review. The Herald is not naming the man because he has not been charged with a crime in the case.
A fatal accident when the driver is intoxicated can result in vehicular homicide charges. In most cases, leaving the scene of a fatal accident also is a felony under state law.
Hyde-Donohue came from a large local family. They’ve asked for privacy since her death.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449, rking@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
