DAVE ROSS

Homeless man killed had ‘reasonable expectation’ of not being run over

Sep 15, 2016, 8:33 AM | Updated: 8:52 am

council petition, what works cities...

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray declared a state of emergency over the homeless crisis in 2015 (AP)

(AP)

The 33-year-old man accused of veering off an I-5 exit ramp and killing a homeless man sleeping in a tent is being held on $250,000 bail after a judge found probable cause to hold him on vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run.

The man, who police say fled the scene and returned to his Capitol Hill apartment after the crash, is expected to be formally charged today. But will the homicide charge stick?

Related: City, WSDOT starts sweep in part of ‘Jungle’ homeless encampment

The driver told police he had two to three beers and two shots before driving. The 19-year-old in the tent, meanwhile, was camping in a place where he shouldn’t have been, KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross points out. Former Attorney General Rob McKenna says the illegal camping probably won’t matter in court.

“Imagine that the victim had been on the side of the road changing a flat tire and the driver left the road and struck him,” McKenna said. “(The driver) would be liable then.”

The incident occurred at a homeless camp in a greenbelt along I-5 at the exit to 50th Street in the University District. The piece of land is located between the freeway and the exit to 45th and 50th Streets. The car left the exit ramp and entered into the greenbelt, traveling up the grassy hill and into the tent, before crashing into a tree.

There were at least three tents set up at the encampment. There are hundreds of unauthorized camps that have popped up on vacant land, along freeways and in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. The tents are familiar sights to drivers along I-5 in Seattle.

Things would be different for the driver of the Jetta if, for example, a tire blew out and the man lost control of the vehicle, McKenna says.

“That would be a tragic accident,” McKenna added.

But police have not indicated there were problems with the car. And although the homeless man was in an area where he shouldn’t have been camping, he still has a “reasonable expectation” of not being run over, McKenna says.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

1 day ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

21 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

22 days ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

29 days ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

social media...

Dave Ross

Ross: Is the Wild West of social media over after Senate hearing?

The original social media business model was genius -- get ordinary people to create content for free, sell ads and give the content creators a cut.

2 months ago

Homeless man killed had ‘reasonable expectation’ of not being run over