Grieving mom pleads for driver to come forward after son hit, killed
BEAVERTON, Ore. - A mother filled with heartache over her teenaged son's death pleaded Wednesday for the driver who hit him to come forward.
Harley Rocher, 18, was found dead not far from Jesuit High School near Southwest Scholls Ferry Road and Laurelwood.
Police still don't have any leads on who hit him. The street is dark, it's hard to see and so far there have been no calls from witnesses about the hit-and-run death. That’s left Rocher's family devastated.
Rocher's mom, Tammy Beers, says her son should have had so many years left to fulfill his 
dreams. As a technician at America's Tire in Tanasbourne, Beers says her son received three raises within a year's time and was regarded as a hard worker.
"He was an old soul. He was so mature and smart. He didn't deserve this. This shouldn't have happened," she says.
Rocher's body was discovered lying face down on the edge of the road Tuesday night. Police couldn't say if he was crossing the street or walking.
"I don't know who did this; I don't know why. I know accidents happen. I know people get distracted, but you don't leave somebody in the middle of the road," Beers says. "Whoever knows what happens, they need to come forward. They owe him that."
And to the driver who hit Rocher, Beers says she wants them to know she's only speaking out so they know her family's pain and what they took away from her.
"Living with that I wouldn't wish on anyone; none of us need to suffer from this. It just needs to be able to be closed. So we know,” Beers says. "I just want to know what happened."
Beaverton police ask anyone who knows anything about the crash to contact them.
For anyone who wants to help the family, Threadgill Memorial has set up a fund in Harley Rocher's name.
This young man was my nephew, and dearly loved by his family!! Please.....anyone who knows anything, please come forward....it is the right thing to do!!!!!
If the driver who hit and killed this young man would've stopped and called for help, and stayed with the victim, chances are he/she would've at least been able to explain the situation to the officers (dark, couldn't see him, etc.). But now, the driver is a felon who left the scene of a fatal accident. Makes me think that the driver either was DUI, no insurance/no license, or something like that.  I drive by this intersection daily on my way home. That section of Laurelwood is so dark and narrow, with no safe place for a pedestrian to walk. It's one of many places that needs some safety changes made asap.
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My heart goes out to Haley's mom and family, and I pray that the driver finds the courage and decency to come forward.Â
To the driver that hit Harley Rocher, what if that was your child?
I'm so very sorry for your families loss.
I'm keeping an eye out for suspicious damage on any cars.
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Terrible, a parents worst nightmare, my condolences to his family and friends.
This is so very sad. Â What a nice young man . Something like this should not happen.
I hope this is not another case involving a drunk driver.
This person had to have known,that they hit someone! Do the right thing,and turn yourself in! My thoughts and prayers are with this young mans family!
So sad, sorry for your loss.
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 @nwipac What does an SUV have to do with this? It could be any type of vehicle. Inattentive drivers cause problems on roadways, not the type of vehicle they are driving.
 @nwipac I live in a city with bike lanes, yet the bicyclists still use normal lanes and still blow through traffic lights and stop signs. Just because we have bike lanes, sidewalks or street lights doesn't mean it'll save someone's life.
SO sorry for your loss. The driver should come forward, but since they left the scene of the crime it appears they have no soul and most likely won't. Take responsiblity for your choices - good or bad.Â
 @Somonecaresaboutsomething ~  More likely, the driver was either drunk or high on something... knew that s/he hit someone (or something), and took off... if DUI on alcohol, it wouldn't be very long before their BAC would be down far enough that they couldn't get nailed for DUI, even if LE caught up with them... Not sure about drugs, but perhaps the same low-life "rationale"...
In any case, a HORRIBLE thing to do... hit someone, then take off and leave them to die in the street... someone has, as you say, no soul... no conscience...
RIP, Harley Rocher... you were taken way too soon... Â Condolences go to your loved ones and friends for their loss... Â
 @margay1 Or the driver could be a young driver who is scared out of their wits. No excuse to hit & run, but I'm not going to offer eternal condemnation for the other party until I know why they ran.
I'm sure autobody shops are are high alert after this accident. I truly hope that the driver will turn him/herself in, so that there will be less pain.
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To the driver - Please come forward! It's the right thing to do.
Again, I was on that road at about 7:25 that night. It had to have been within a half hour of Harley being hit and killed. I noticed a pedestrian (not Harley) walking south on the east side of Laurelwood, and I noticed how dark and dangerous it is for peds on that road. I called and reported the time and description to Beaverton police, to help establish time, and someone else in the area. I couldn't speak for the southbound lane, but there was nothing in the road going northbound at that time. The person I saw made an attempt to move farther back from the road, as he saw my car approaching. So he noticed me coming, and moved off of the side of the road.
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One of the curiosities I have about this, is what was Harley doing either walking or crossing that road at that time, when he works in Tanasbourne, and is from Aloha? By all accounts, he was also a mature, responsible young man, and the type that would be prepared enough to avoid something like this. A car would have to be driving without lights on to not be noticed coming toward you, or from behind you, and you would have to have music earphones or something in to not hear a car coming. There's something strange about this. I'm sure the investigating officers could determine whether or not an accident happened there, or if the body was moved from some other location and left there to give the appearance of a hit n run. Would they release that information, or is that something they would conceal?
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My heart absolutely is with the mother, family, friends, and co-workers..but there's something about this that just does not jibe, other than someone caused this man's death, and it's a terrible tragedy.
 @KillsGermsOnContact Harley was my grandson and I want to clear something up: he was growing up and trying to become independent and was living on his own for the first time, so his place of residence was about a block away from where he got hit. He was in the process of buying a car from us just because of having so far to take the bus to work and then walking on that roadway. He didn't want to take the car until he paid for it and had his license, he figured by the end of the year it would be done. His Mom called him accidentally while he was walking after he got off the bus and they had a short but nice conversation and we don't know how long after that he got hit and we don't know how long he laid there before he actually died. These things are going to haunt our family forever. I am going to miss him so terribly. He was a wonderful young man and I can't even look out my front windows at "Harley's" car, which he was so excited about getting. There was nothing sinister here, he wasn't moved from somewhere else, it was a matter of being hit and then being left to die. I hope they find out who could do this, but it still won't bring my wonderful Grandson back to us.Â
Ms. Nasario,
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Thank you for posting here, and being able to talk about this. It helps to clarify the whats, whens, and whys in terms of Harley being there at that time. Knowing even more about him, and how he was trying so hard to do things the right way, makes this even more tragic and heart-breaking. I am SO..so terribly sorry for your loss. And you're right, no amount of speculation, or witch hunting, or even finding who did this will make any of it any better. Chances are, if there is a capture, it will be just another typical mug shot, and story of someone with a criminal history, who is an alcoholic, meth head, or some other kind of person who does more to destroy the good in this world, than to contribute.
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Harley obviously would have been a contributor. Again, I'm SO..so terribly sorry that part of your life, and Harley's important role in your life was taken away from you. And no amount of words and sympathy from those you know, and total strangers who mean well, will ever change that. I don't know you, nor did I know your grandson. I just happened to be driving there with my son, shortly before this happened, and saw a pedestrian trying to navigate that dangerous place around the same time this happened. I grew up near this neighborhood. I worked at Portland Golf Club..just
down the road. My son has basketball practice at Raleigh Hills school..near where Harley moved to. I was also very close with my grandmother. So this touches me, and I grieve your loss with you. Peace n Blessings.. Â
 @KillsGermsOnContact Thank you so much for that post. I've never commented on a news item before but I just wanted to clarify the circumstances of why he was at that spot at that time. My husband and I admired Harley so much for being responsible and getting to work on time, and not missing days due to the distance of travel he had to do. I'm not sure I would have done the same, I probably would have looked for an easier way to do things. My husband is going to store the car at a friend's house until we can sell it to someone else, hopefully far away, because I just can't look outside at it without crying my eyes out. I hope this gets better with time, today is just too hard and when I see my poor daughter on the news I feel like my heart is broken for her. Thank you for your Blessings.Â
 @KillsGermsOnContact Does it really matter why he was over there, walking along the street, when he is from another area? Heck! A young woman from another country was hit and left for dead on a Portland street, just days after arriving in the US.Â
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The problem is that someone hit Harley, and instead of stopping to render aid, left him to die a cruel death. The Beers' children are friends of my children, and it grieves me to see the pain that is happening in Aloha because someone failed to act as a responsible driver.Â
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My heart aches for this mother and Harley's sisters, as well as the family friends. Please find it in your heart to donate to Harley's fund at Threadgill Memorial.Â
" KillsGermsOnContact" isn't questioning the devastation of what happened, or blaming Harley. KGOC is questioning whether there is a possibility that Harley was injured, or killed elsewhere and ,then brought to the location of the body find. I think it is a very good question. I personally believe levidity would have set off red flags, had he been moved. My deepest sympathies and prayers for Harley, his family and all.
Thank you. I consider and respect the source, who is a friend of the family. I don't take it personally, and I am in no way questioning the young man. I find the circumstances odd, and having been in the vicinity, and being somewhat of an amateur sleuth, this case has been weighing on me. I would snoop around both schools (Jesuit and Southridge) parking lots for damaged vehicles, as Jesuit and Southridge were playing a JV and Varsity game at the time. I would also check the parking lots and ask questions at the Tillicum, China Palace, Raccoon Lodge, and other bars/lounges within a mile or two of that area. I'm not sure if the investigators would release the information, if they suspected the body had been moved. But there are ways they can tell, and I'm sure with all of the vehicles and personnel they had there on site, all possibilities have been reviewed and evaluated. Â
 @KillsGermsOnContact yea the area he was found in is no where near tansbourne or aloha unless you are talking about driving time thats a good question!
Can't we have a new law against driving drunk, or stopping when involved in a collision, or requiring insurance, or requiring a license to drive, or.. wait, we already do have laws for each of those things...hmmm.
A 4000lb projectile can do a lot of damage to a lot of people when in the hands of a crazed, intoxicated, maligned, etc. driver. Â Well, we've all heard about how evil and dangerous guns are of late, but shouldn't we be looking at the 'vehicle safety issue' first -- ya know, since these types of things seem to happen every day?Â
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Best wishes to the family. Â This must be sheer hell for them to have to endure.
@ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsPhredE There's a time and place and this isn't one of them.
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 @bikegeek  @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsPhredE It's one of my better qualities.
anyone remember this?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF8ahDDWEPs
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its best to turn yourself in after you have sobered up which is what the Russian guy did.
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Mr. Russian man got a slap on the wrist ( he got i think maybe 5 years i don't remember exactly), while Mr. Vu gave his life. One must wonder about the legal system......what a shame.
 @toobadsoosad Pavlenko pled guilty and was sentenced to 18 months. They couldn't get him for drunk driving even though they knew he had been; they could only get him for failure to perform the duties of a driver. The person who killed my son Dustin in a hit-and-run less than 2 weeks after Miky Vu got 5 years because they caught him early enough he was still drunk. But we still had to accept a plea because they couldn't prove he was the driver. It DOES pay to hit-and-run and that is shameful.
 @toobadsoosad Most certainly do.
The driver is probably still hung-over and was in a blackout...
 @August100 You are probably right. The driver probably doesn't even know they killed someone. Horrible.Â
There is grief and there is devastation. This poor family is suffering from both because of a heartless, less than human who left a young man to die. I hope this "person" will find their humanity & soul and come forward to accept whatever the consequences are. This family deserves answers and accountability from the driver. To hit someone can be accidental but to leave them to die is murder.Â
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My sincerest thoughts, prayers, and compassion go out to this young man's family.
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Absolutely heartbreaking.I can't even begin to imagine the level of pain Ms.Beers is going through.