Updated on: 11/14/2019
Bellevue police recently announced they will recommend that the King County Prosecutor’s Office pursue a felony hit-and-run charge against a woman who fled the scene of a pedestrian accident at Forest Drive Southeast and Coal Creek Parkway last month.
According to a police report submitted to the prosecutor’s office, the 24-year-old injured pedestrian was found to be legally using the crosswalk at Forest Drive Southeast to cross Coal Creek Parkway when she was struck by a 1999 Chevy Astro van at approximately 3:25 p.m. The man driving the van reportedly did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk and ran over her legs and pelvis.
Another vehicle, driven by 58-year-old Sun-Ho Choi, also hit the pedestrian just after the initial strike from the Astro van. Witnesses told police that Choi, who was driving a 2012 Porsche Cayenne at the time, pulled over to the side of the road for a moment before speeding away from the scene.
The pedestrian was taken from the scene to Harborview Medical Center, where she was treated for serious and life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, police reviewed surveillance video and provided still images of the Porsche to local media in hopes of catching the driver. News reports indicate that Choi’s daughter called police and told them the vehicle was similar to her mother’s and that she could be a suspect.
Implications of Criminal Charges in Pedestrian Accident Claim
Choi was later booked, cited, and released from jail in King County. The victim has since been discharged from Harborview Medical Center, though her current medical status is unclear.
Regardless of the seriousness of the felony charge, the fact that police are recommending criminal charges against Choi suggests that she will be held at least partially responsible for the incident. From a legal perspective, the victim of this tragic collision may be able to file claims against both drivers if it can be proven that they both struck her with their vehicles.
All accident victims should make it an absolute priority to seek medical treatment for their injuries as soon as possible following a collision. In this particular case, it is also important for the victim to collect contact information for any witnesses who could corroborate the series of events that led up to the accident and caused the injuries she has suffered.