Bill Gates Sr. used ‘senior moment’ to explaing hit-and-run

Published 10:21 pm Monday, November 8, 2010

SEATTLE — The Seattle City Attorney’s Office has decided not to press charges against Bill Gates Sr. after the community leader apologized for a hit-and-run collision and paid for damages.

According to documents obtained by KIRO-TV, the incident happened in August. Investigators found his Mercedes near Seattle Center, wedged against another car, with the engine running and keys in the ignition.

The police report says the owner of the other car called 911 and Gates’ vehicle was towed. When he and a friend returned, Gates was given a citation for a hit-and-run incident. No one was injured in the incident.

Gates’ friend said at the time that he may have had a “senior moment” and didn’t know he was so close to the other vehicle. A Gates family spokesman told KIRO-TV this week that Gates was unaware of the incident until he returned to his car.