— from Sheriff Ron Krebs —
On 04/08/2015 shortly after 10 a.m. a call of a reported Hit and Run accident involving a pedestrian and a vehicle came into the Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch center. At 10:05 a.m. Orcas Fire and Aid was the first to arrive on scene and treated an 18 year old female student [Orcas High School Senior Emily Foster] for injuries sustained from being struck by a moving vehicle. The female was transported to the Orcas airport where she was flown off island via Airlift and taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham where she was treated and released later that day.
Orcas Deputies searched the area for the suspect vehicle. A short time later a male in his late twenties was arrested at his Orcas Island residence and taken into custody for the accident. His vehicle was impounded and a search warrant will be sought to search the vehicle. The suspect was then transported to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office where he is waiting for a hearing with the judge. He is being held on the charge of felony Hit and Run with injuries.
Four Deputies and a Detective as well as the San Juan County Sheriff’s Accident Reconstructionist arrived to process the scene.
I hope Emily fully recovers from her injuries and is able to move beyond this terrible thing. I also hope that this person is held responsible for his actions to the highest extent of the law. Also a good time to remind everyone that even if there are stop signs and/or crosswalks not everyone stops completely. Even some who do do not seem to look both ways before pulling away from a stop sign, especially this one and the one on the road coming from the Eastsound post office. Even when it isn’t tourist season everyone needs to be very careful when crossing a road when walking and especially careful when driving. A lot of people walk on the island and especially in the Village of Eastsound. As with Emily, a lot of students walk in Eastsound and should not have to fear being run down. Each of us needs to always be aware of our surroundings and not be distracted, no matter the reason. And many of us who are older can’t move as fast as we used to and shouldn’t feel threatened by moving vehicles.
I wish Emily a speedy recovery and to say we miss her in ATU!! Love from all of us!