Police: Woman called tow truck, not 911 after fatal accident

BY Brandi Kruse  on August 22, 2012 @ 2:02 pm (Updated: 3:18 pm - 8/22/12 )

A woman who authorities say hit a motorcyclist then called a tow truck company to pick up her car rather than dial 911, faces felony hit and run charges.

The family of 26-year-old Gisela Carmona-Moreno, and the tow truck driver who picked her up, could also face charges of aiding and abetting, the Washington State Patrol said Wednesday.

Michael J. McCurdy, 23, was driving his motorcycle on State Route 20 around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday when he was hit by a car from behind after he stopped short to avoid another collision.

Police say Carmona-Moreno, who was allegedly driving the car that hit McCurdy, fled the scene and called her family.

"Those family members then called a tow truck and the tow truck responded to where she was at," said Trooper Keith Leary. He said the family may have a personal connection to the driver.

Meanwhile, Leary said a truck driven by a 73-year-old man struck McCurdy as he lay injured in the roadway. While that driver did stop to help, McCurdy later died of his injuries after being transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Investigators identified Carmona-Moreno as a suspect after her front license plate was recovered at the scene and a trooper spotted her damaged vehicle being driven down the road on a flatbed truck.

She allegedly told police she drove away because she was "scared."

Carmona-Moreno was booked into the Skagit County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (13)


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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    probably an illegal
    August 22, 2012 2:40 pm
    that would be the only reason for her to leave the scene. question is will she be deported after she gets her extra light slap on the hand?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Wild Bill wrote...
    WHICH
    August 22, 2012 4:32 pm
    TOW COMPANY? If they're being charged int's in the record, the same as the woman charged with hit and run. It's part of the story, an interesting part, actually. Report it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Wild Bill wrote...
    dori monson fan
    August 22, 2012 4:33 pm
    you have no idea, and your guess only reveals your knee jerk thought process. She could have been three sheets to the wind, as well, she could have been an unethical person, she could have. Your answer, obviously, says much about you, but nothing about her.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • biteme wrote...
    Wild Bill
    August 22, 2012 5:17 pm
    Pick your battles better, this gal does not deserve a defender of her character. She's eff'd up, one way or another.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    bill
    August 22, 2012 9:20 pm
    not knee jerk at all. she clearly does not care about laws.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Rear ended
    August 22, 2012 11:16 pm
    I got rear ended by a woman and she took off...usually it's running because they are drunk or have no insurance.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JoeB wrote...
    He may have survied
    August 23, 2012 4:11 am
    if she would have just stopped and gave just a little help. Like warning on coming traffic. Instead, she left him injured laying in the road like an animal. Scared or not...she should have stopped and tried to help...I really don't understand people....doing what she did just dug her deeper into legal trouble and she deserves to be punished.
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  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Reporter?
    August 23, 2012 5:50 am
    Again another poorly written article by a reporter who never learned the who,what, when and where in journalism school. What crap college did this writer graduate from or is the article censored as to weather this woman was an CRIMINAL ALIEN or not. Is this the type of person our president is welcoming into our country with open arms just to try and win an election? Another AMERICAN citizen dead because of an illegal who should not of even been here to kill in the firstplace!!! Wake up America the current administration is selling every LAW ABIDING, TAXPAYING, WORKING PERSON down the river just for votes!!!
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  • Sean wrote...
    The answer to your question, Concerned...
    August 23, 2012 7:21 am
    is, yes, of course he is. Off-topic though; I hope she gets justice. Absolutely unconscienable.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MK wrote...
    Concerned US Citizen
    August 23, 2012 8:57 am
    That would be whether, not weather.

    Firstplace is not one word.

    You're missing a space at "who,what,"

    You should probably have a comma after "Wake up America"

    Only one ! is required.

    Anyone so concerned with journalism should probably be concerned about English composition too.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Trolltroll wrote...
    Concerned US Citizen
    November 12, 2012 3:35 pm
    "an" CRIMINAL ALIEN or not. LoL at your grammar!!! Seems like your the only one writhing poorly around here.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    On behalf of all motorcycle riders
    August 23, 2012 6:05 am
    I would like to jerk my knee into her face repeatedly.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • O-town listener wrote...
    feel bad for the truck driver..
    August 23, 2012 8:17 am
    Probably had no chance to see the guy, but would weigh heavily knowing you participated in someone's death - regardless of the fact that there was likely nothing that could have been done on his part to avoid it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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