WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has identified and cited the driver accused of striking a bicyclist and leaving the scene of a crash that left the victim critically injured.
According to investigators, deputies identified the driver on Saturday, July 25, as 81-year-old Kathleen Priepke, who lives in the Rock Creek neighborhood near the crash site. Priepke was issued a criminal citation for failure to perform the duties of a driver when a person is injured, commonly known as hit-and-run.
Deputies also seized the 2013 Ford Edge believed to have been involved in the collision. The investigation remains ongoing.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at the intersection of NW West Union Road and NW Neakahnie Avenue.
Investigators said a 74-year-old Beaverton man was riding his bicycle eastbound on NW West Union Road when an SUV traveling west turned left in front of him, striking the cyclist.
A nurse who happened to be at the scene immediately provided medical care before the injured cyclist was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.
Authorities said the SUV driver failed to stop after the collision and fled south on NW Neakahnie Avenue.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the inter-agency Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) to investigate the crash. During the investigation, deputies recovered the SUV’s broken side mirror at the scene. That evidence allowed investigators to narrow the suspect vehicle to a gray Ford Edge manufactured between 2011 and 2015, ultimately leading them to identify the driver.
Although the suspect has now been identified, investigators say the case remains active.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information that has not yet been shared with investigators is asked to contact Washington County non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and reference case number 50-26-10430.
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