EVERETT — An Everett man turned himself in to police this week, saying he was the driver in a fatal hit and run on Evergreen Way in December, authorities said.
Just after 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30, a driver in a red Jeep Liberty hit Daniel Martinez Gomez on Evergreen Way near the intersection with Ttereve Drive, according to a police report. A witness reported seeing a backpack fly in the air.
Security footage later showed Martinez Gomez stepping in the middle of the road and facing oncoming traffic, police wrote. He remained on the hood of the car, and the Jeep braked hard until he rolled off. One of the Jeep’s front tires then ran over Martinez Gomez.
The witness told investigators the driver kept going as if nothing happened, according to the report. At the next light, the Jeep turned right. The driver eventually parked at an apartment building just blocks from the crash.
When officers arrived, they found Martinez Gomez injured in the road. He was taken to the hospital, where he died later that night. He was 38.
Near the scene, there was a broken windshield wiper, personal belongings and a pool of blood, officers reported.
After the crash, a witness took note of the SUV’s license plate. Police found found it belonged to a 59-year-old Everett man, according to court papers.
That man’s license was reportedly suspended at the time. He also had warrants for driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence, according to police.
Officers went to the man’s home in northwest Everett. A friend of his answered the door. He reported his daughter had told him the man hit a dog earlier that evening, police wrote.
Police reportedly found the Jeep at the Marie Anne Terrace Apartments on Ttereve Drive. One of the turn signal lights was dislodged. The bottom of the grill was cracked. The hood was severely dented. And a windshield wiper was missing.
A few days after the crash, police interviewed the suspect’s friend again. That time, he reported the man had since acknowledged it wasn’t a dog the car had hit. The driver had apparently been afraid people he saw in the area would hurt him, so he kept driving, according to the police report.
The Everett man told his friend he slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. He reportedly said he hadn’t been drinking.
On Monday, the suspected driver turned himself in. Officers arrested him for investigation of a hit-and-run fatality. He was released from custody Tuesday evening, jail records show.
Jonathan Tall: 425-339-3486; jonathan.tall@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @EDHJonTall.
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