Victim of U.S. 2 hit-and-run was a teenage girl

Published 3:38 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2009

EVERETT – She was walking alone along the U.S. 2 trestle Saturday night when her small body was struck by a vehicle, police believe.

The girl who was found Monday afternoon behind a jersey barrier hasn’t been formally identified, but Washington State Patrol officials said they want to talk to anyone who might have information about the fatal collision.

Detectives believe the girl who died was a teenager. She was 5-foot-2 with strawberry blond hair. The night she died, she was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, black tank top and black-and-white flip flops. Strung around her neck were chains that held a man’s class ring, two diamond rings, an amulet and a cross.

The girl’s identity is expected to be released later today by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s office, officials said.

“Whoever struck this individual knows they struck an individual,” Washington State Patrol detective Craig Cardinal said. “They have to know they hit something.”

On Wednesday, detectives showed reporters some bits and pieces of the vehicle collected along 1,400 feet of the busy freeway.

The items included a blood splattered side-view mirror, a headlight, a radio antenna, and a telling chip of bluish-green paint.

The damage likely is on the passenger side of the vehicle. Detectives are looking for a GM-brand pickup truck or SUV, likely model years 1994 to 1999, Cardinal said.

“We want to find out who struck and killed this person,” trooper Keith Leary said.

He urged whoever is responsible to come forward. It will be more difficult for that person if troopers are forced to track that person down, he said.

Police believe the girl was hit around 10 p.m. Saturday, Leary said. They believe the vehicle that struck the girl stopped and then fled.

Anyone with information about the girl or the vehicle is asking to call the State Patrol at either 360-658-2588 or 360-707-1157.