Girl, 14, seriously injured in hit-and-run crash
SALEM, Ore. – A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash in Salem Friday night.
It happened in the intersection of Lancaster Drive SE and Durbin Avenue at around 7:45 p.m., according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Don Thomson.
A pickup truck driver accelerated though the intersection to try to beat a red light when the truck hit Kathryn Staudinger. She was crossing Lancaster Drive with a girlfriend, who avoided being hit by the truck.
The crosswalk had a “walk” signal when the two girls were crossing the street, Thomson said.
"My brother was actually driving after he saw the car had hit her and taken off," said Virginia Ruiz, who lives near the intersection. "He slammed on his breaks and helped her. And there were people around and she kept saying she's cold. People kept taking off their jackets to cover her up."
Staudinger was taken to a Salem hospital, and later moved to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.
"I'm in disbelief," said Ruiz. "I can't believe somebody would actually do that to a child and just continue to go."
The driver of the pickup truck continued driving northbound on Lancaster after hitting Staudinger. Witnesses described the truck as a 1980s model Ford F150. Different witnesses described the color as light brown, tan or possibly rusty. The truck had been lifted and had loud exhaust pipes, Thomson said. It should have right front damage.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Deputy Stacy Rejaian at 503-576-0651.
What a coward. Hopefully he is found, and soon. Poor girl.
That's a disgusting act by someone who is a coward. Thankfully, the man who was driving nearby did a great service, as did all the others who offered up their coats.Â
KATU staff - please proofread this sentence: "He slammed on his breaks and helped her." It should be "He slammed on his BRAKES and helped her." Â Â Thanks...
What is the matter with people now days? The stories of these weasels injuring and killing people with their vehicles is a regular news item. We need severe penalties for these offenses. I wish Kathryn a speedy recovery. Unspeakable punishment for the pickup driver.Â
This poor girl was 100% in the right legally.
But for heavens sake people:
When the pedestian signal light says WALK,
look both ways first and be sure all cars are
stopped or obviously stopping before proceeding across any street.
Our community needs to rally behind this young girl and her family. Please show your support: http://www.facebook.com/SupportingKathrynAndHerFamily
@Gail Mavity ~  I don't do Facebook, but I sure send my best wishes to the young lady for her full recovery..! Â
What on earth is up with all the people getting hit by cars lately? I don't get it. People have been around for a long time, cars have been around for a long time....Is it pedestrians being careless about cars or drivers of cars being careless about pedestrians? I'm confused. Anyone have any thoughts about this?Â
@mjoh Too many people, crammed in too small of space. A single dwelling turns into 3 story apartments, sometimes with no parking. Ten pounds of stuff into a five pound bag
@mjoh ~  You know, I've been thinking that very same thing for a few days now... it just seems like...either there are more-than-normal #s of these accidents happening, or we're being told about more of them... not sure which is correct... Either way, it's sad to read / ear about so many people being injured / killed on our roads...Â
DRIVERS: Â Don't drive drunk or high; stay OFF the cell phone, pay attention to your driving..!
PEDS & BICYCLISTS: Â Be aware of what's going on around you..! Â Whether it's your fault or not, you will probably NOT win in a collision with a car or truck... Â The "right of way" doesn't help you if you're injured or dead..!
@margay1 @mjoh Problem is a lot of these people are hit when they're already well into the intersection. So unless they can jump out of the way - like one of these girls did - they don't have a lot of options.
Just today I was waiting at SE 3rd and Burnside in Gresham. The car in front of me was waiting to make the right, as was I. We had the green, but there was a woman and a few young children crossing the road. A large truck was waiting at the light across from us to make the left (no protected light, you have to yield). The family wasn't even out of the inside lane yet when the driver punched it into the lane so that he could go before those of us turning right would have the opportunity. I was for sure he was going to hit them. People are just in a hurry and don't give a damn about anyone around them.
@margay1 @Jenni S. @mjoh Most definitely. I am always hesitant to cross roads anymore because I just see too many people not stopping.
@Jenni S. @margay1 @mjoh ~ Very true, Jenni... Please don't think that I intended to place an inordinate amount of "blame" on pedestrians... that was not my intent...  And I've certainly witnessed close calls, such as you describe, on any number of occasions..!  Â
The point I was trying to make, with reference to pedestrians in particular, was that, because they have so little protection in event of a collision with a car (or a bicycle, for that matter), peds need to be super-aware of their surroundings - and go on the assumption that somebody in a car, truck, or on a bike, might just do something really stupid. Â IOW, it's not a criticism; it's just a matter of self-preservation... Â
Those of us in cars or trucks have the extra duty to watch out for those who have the greatest chance of serious injury / death if we hit them. Â Â Sometimes, though, even with the best of intentions and great care, other people do things we just cannot anticipate... Â Bottom line is, we need to watch out for each other...but all too often, as you said, it doesn't happen that way...Â
I'm now thinking that drivers who are arrested and convicted of seriously injuring someone (or killing them) -- especially if they do a hit and run -- should work on the road clean up crews that have to go out and "make things better" so the rest of us are able to use the road again. Â Maybe they should also be required to go along with the officer who has to inform the next of kin, too.
Another six weeks and cars will be hitting cyclists nearly every day...and a bunch of bike haters will blame the cyclists.
@Icarus Take your meds
@Fed up
Clever...it happens every year. There are a dozen high profile bike fatalities and a handful of bike haters that insist, in spite of all the evidence, that the cyclists are to blame. The fact is that motorists drive carelessly and cause fatalities and billions in property damage year round.
Very best wishes to Miss Staudinger for her full recovery..! Â Â
 I hope somebody turns in this driver of that PU - and SOON..!
I hope she makes a full recovery. 14 years old and mowed down in a crosswalk. What the hell is wrong with people????
What a jerk to hit her and then just leave! I hope someone knows the person who did this and turns her/him in, pronto.
Man, I have a a 1988 F150 (blue), and the thought of getting hit by one? Ouch. It's probably a good thing it was lifted. Hopefully she went under and wasn't hit by the tires. The tires alone, on my F150 at least, would kill anyone.
Hoping for a good recovery, and will be on the lookout for a tan F150 for sure.
What the pickup driver did was not unusual nowadays. I hope the girl recovers from her injury. As for the pickup driver, I hope he is somehow caught and held accountable for his actions.  Â
@jpk Does portland have those cameras at the intersection that are not used for speed control? we have "Live cameras" that are HD and are aimed at the intersection,then we have a large video unit that can be connected to a DVD recorder of camera and can record traffic. we have had them for the last 5 years. and the cams get exceedingly good detail, I have seen them in action.
Some intersections in Portland are, but this happened in Salem.
@jpk but then again the city worker said that the cams were about 3 grand each.
@jpk we have them on every lighted intersection on Oceacenbeach Highway.
This parasite deserves a very quick trial (no more than 30 days total) then an execution by any means. The justice system is bleeding us dry with their endless extensions and the lawyers greed.  Â
@last boyscout I'd volunteer to drive a truck over him/her.
@AmiM @last boyscout Better get in line. The line's already from here to Salem. :-)