Man injured in downtown Spokane hit-and-run still in serious condition

A homeless man hit by a speeding car last week at a downtown intersection remains in serious condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

David Scalla, 58, was found at about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 29 lying in the middle of Wall Street just south of an alley between Second and Third avenues. According to court records, the collision fractured his left and right tibia and his pelvis.

A hospital spokesperson confirmed his condition.

Spokane police believe 28-year-old Gabriel Hein is responsible for the collision. Court records say surveillance video shows Hein’s 1999 Ford Taurus accelerate toward the Wall and Second intersection, where the vehicle hits Scalla and speeds away.

Days later, police found Hein’s car parked outside of his Browne’s Addition apartment, which showed damage “consistent with a vehicle striking a pedestrian.” There were dents on the front driver’s side and a hole in the front windshield, with blood on the steering wheel assembly.

Hein reportedly told police the vehicle had not moved since the previous Monday, but then said he went to a friend’s house Wednesday evening, court records say. He said he had been drinking, but when he came home, got into an argument with his girl-friend and punched his window.

However, in court Monday, Hein told a Spokesman-Review reporter he didn’t know what happened that night, as he believed he was drugged.

“I can’t say I was fully responsive,” he said. “There were other factors at play.”

Scalla, who is referred to as “transient” in a search warrant filed Tuesday in court, had his blood drawn at the hospital. Police are hoping to make a match with blood samples swabbed from the vehicle.

Hein, who remains out of custody, is charged with felony vehicular assault and hit-and-run. He has no criminal history in Washington.

Reporter Will Campbell contributed to this story.