Pierce County, WA driver wanted after crash sends 32-year-old to ICU
Man critically injured by hit-and-run driver after Mariners game
The search is on to find a hit-and-run driver who hospitalized a 32-year-old man in critical condition, hit by two cars while coming home from the Mariners game.
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - A 32-year-old man is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit after being struck by two vehicles while returning home from a Seattle Mariners game on Friday night.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is now searching for the driver of a dark-colored pickup truck who struck James Weinstein and fled the scene, leaving him to be hit by a second vehicle moments later.
The Incident
The backstory:
The crash occurred around 10:15 p.m. along Canyon Road in the Summit area of Pierce County. Investigators believe Weinstein was in the roadway attempting to retrieve a pair of expensive sunglasses he had dropped outside of a car.
Natalie and James Weinstein
According to Deputy Carly Cappetto with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, the impact was severe.
"It’s obvious according to witness statements that this truck knew they had hit something," said Cappetto.
She tells FOX 13 Seattle a witness reported the truck hit its breaks, slowed down, then kept going. Deputies on-scene found debris they linked to a 1994–2000 Chevy Silverado.
A second car also hit Weinstein while he was in the road, but investigators said that driver stayed behind and was cooperative.
Investigators on scene report Weinstein was launched approximately 50 to 75 feet.
A Long Road to Recovery
Weinstein’s older sister, Natalie, rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center Friday night. She described a harrowing scene in the ICU, where her brother remains hooked up to machines.
"Walking in and thinking that you’ve lost your little brother is the worst-case scenario," Natalie said. "It’s really hard to see him...he’s in really critical condition."
Weinstein has already undergone several surgeries to address a laundry list of catastrophic injuries, including:
- A severed artery in his leg
- A broken femur and arm
- A broken clavicle
- Multiple cracked ribs
Doctors are still working to determine if his leg can be saved.
What you can do:
The community has already begun rallying around the family. A GoFundMe page created by Natalie has raised over $20,000 in just a few days to help cover medical expenses and lost income during what is expected to be a months-long recovery.
"It was incredible. We thank everyone for their generosity," said Natalie.
She tells FOX 13 Seattle the community can also help by helping investigators find the driver of the truck that left her brother in the street.
"That initial driver could had really saved his life if he had stopped and helped – he wouldn’t have been hit by the second car," she said.
Investigators have recovered debris from the scene and believe the hit-and-run vehicle is a dark-colored Chevy Silverado, likely a model year between 1994 and 2002. The truck should have significant damage to the center front grill.
If you have any information regarding the vehicle or the driver, or if you live along Canyon Road and have surveillance footage from Friday night, please contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators are asking anyone who lives along this portion of Canyon Road to check their surveillance systems for the hit-and-run vehicle.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, GoFundMe, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.