MONROE — Police on Thursday were seeking a search warrant to examine a stolen pickup truck they believe struck and killed a bicyclist before being driven off Wednesday night.
Authorities did not release the victim’s identity Thursday, saying her family had not been notified. She was believed to be in her 50s.
The hit-and-run crash occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at U.S. 2 and Old Owen Road.
The bike rider suffered severe head injuries and was taken by medics to Valley General Hospital in Monroe. She was pronounced dead shortly after she arrived.
Police discovered a light-colored pickup truck at a Gold Bar park-and-ride lot Thursday afternoon, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said. The pickup appeared to match a vehicle identified by witnesses of the fatal crash.
“We don’t know that it is the vehicle, but the description — a light-colored, large pickup — and the fact that it was stolen and abandoned, it gives us reason to take a look at it,” Willis said.
Witnesses told police that a large pickup truck was stopped at the intersection of eastbound U.S. 2 at Old Owen Road behind another vehicle.
It “then went around the first vehicle and struck the bicyclist in the intersection,” Willis said. “The bicyclist was then struck by two other vehicles as they proceeded through the intersection.”
The other two drivers stopped and cooperated with police, Willis said.
The pickup was driven eastbound on the highway toward Sultan.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident or might have additional information about the pickup to call the department at 360-794-6300 or an anonymous tip line at 360-863-4600. They also hope that tips might help them retrace the routes the bicyclist and pickup driver took in the time leading up to the fatal accident.
Investigators spent more than three hours examining the crash scene and collecting evidence. Both directions of U.S. 2 were closed.
The Washington State Patrol is assisting in the investigation.
“We are really at this point relying on the medical examiner” to make a positive identification, Willis said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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