Records detail possible felony hit-run
Dec. 11 incident left piece of metal in victim’s head
The Washington State Patrol is investigating a December incident involving a vehicle and pedestrian north of Spokane that left a piece of metal embedded in the victim’s head.
A search warrant filed in Spokane County Superior Court details the investigation into potential felony hit-and-run and vehicular assault charges against 32-year-old Todd A. Lester, who was arrested but has not been formally charged.
The incident began when the WSP received a call about a pedestrian being struck about 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 near Walker Avenue on northbound Newport Highway.
“Upon Trooper Stone’s arrival, he observed a pedestrian victim lying on the shoulder portion of the roadway,” court documents state. “The victim had a wheel weight embedded in his head. He was bleeding profusely.”
Wheel weights, often made of lead, are used to balance vehicle tires.
The victim, 48-year-old David S. Snover, was transported to Providence Holy Family Hospital, where he was treated and released for several lacerations, abrasions and scrapes.
Snover later told investigators that he did not have a recollection of being hit. Efforts to reach Snover on Friday were unsuccessful.
The court records don’t explain how the weight became embedded in Snover’s head, but the search warrant said troopers found several pieces of broken clear plastic, resembling pieces of the cover from a headlight.
Troopers found tire marks indicating that the vehicle that struck Snover had been driving on the shoulder.
Troopers then canvassed the neighborhood and checked more than a dozen vehicles before they found a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado parked at 4119 E. Walker Ave. They could see damage to the right front of the truck, and the hood was still warm.
At the home, they contacted Lester, who told them that he had arrived some time before from Lewiston. One of the troopers could smell the “strong odor of intoxicants on Lester’s breath,” court records state. Lester explained that he’d had a couple of beers since he had arrived home.
Lester said he didn’t know when the damage occurred but did say the truck was fine when he left for work that morning.
One of the troopers then asked Lester: “How did the damage occur without your knowledge if you are the only one who was driving the vehicle?” Lester responded, “I got nothing for ya,” court records state.