Bicyclist Badly Hurt In Hit-Run Man In Critical Condition After Sunset Hill Collision

A Spokane man riding his bicycle to work Tuesday was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver, and police were searching for a suspect.

The collision occurred about 5:25 a.m. on Sunset Hill in west Spokane.

The 32-year-old victim, whose name was withheld by police, was pedaling west on Sunset Boulevard when he was hit from behind near F Street.

The force of the impact propelled the bicyclist about 100 feet into the street ahead and his bike 150 feet, said Dick Cottam, police spokesman.

Accident investigators found glass in the road near the site of the wreck, suggesting the victim slammed into the windshield of the car that hit him, Cottam said.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and received massive injuries, police Lt. Glenn Winkey said. He was listed in critical condition at a local hospital Tuesday evening.

The man’s wife told police her husband often rode his bike to work, sometimes stopping at a nearby Safeway grocery store on his way.

Police found a Safeway receipt in the victim’s pocket Tuesday morning. It was stamped at 5:10 a.m., Cottam said.

The driver left the scene before police arrived. “I don’t know what went through their mind,” Winkey said.

Winkey said it’s likely the driver didn’t see the victim. It was dark at the time of the crash, and the cyclist had no reflectors on his bike, wasn’t wearing reflective clothing and was pedaling a good distance from the curb, Winkey said.

Several passing drivers spotted the man lying in the road about 5:30 a.m. and called for help. The motorists stayed with him until paramedics arrived, Cottam said.

Police ask anyone who saw the collision or has other information on the accident to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Winkey also urged the driver to surrender to police.

“We’re going to solve this,” he said. “It would be in the driver’s best interest to come forward and talk to us now.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo; Map of accident site