REDMOND, OR --
DRIVER ARRESTED AFTER HIT AND RUN OF ELDERLY FEMALE
News Release from Redmond Police Dept.
Posted on FlashAlert: October 30th, 2020 8:30 AM
Redmond, OR – On Thursday, October 29, 2020, just before 8:00 AM, Redmond Police Department officers and medics from Redmond Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian hit and run crash at the intersection of NW 6th Street and NW Jackpine Avenue.
On scene, officers identified the victim as Ms. Nancy Newman, a 77-year-old Redmond resident. Ms. Newman had severe, potentially life-threatening injuries and was quickly transported to the St Charles Redmond hospital. Later she was transferred to St Charles Bend.
An investigation at the scene determined a white full-size pickup was involved in the crash. Witnesses reported last seeing the vehicle driving northbound on NW 6th Street from the crash location. Further investigation by officers determined the driver was operating a tow truck owned by Epic Towing. The suspect tow truck was later found at Epic Towing on NE 11th Street, Redmond. Epic Towing cooperated completely with the investigation and in identifying the driver.
A thorough investigation, aided by the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, determined the tow truck was involved in the crash, and the driver had hit the elderly female as she was crossing NW Jackpine Avenue at the intersection with NW 6th Street. Video evidence from a nearby business confirmed the victim was legally crossing the street in an unmarked crosswalk.
The tow truck driver, Mr. Ryan Bills, a 36-year-old Bend resident, was arrested and taken to the Deschutes County Adult Jail in Bend. He was arrested for Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver Involved in an Accident – Felony and Assault in the Second Degree.
Ms. Newman is well known to Redmond police, fire personnel, and area local businesses. Nearly every morning, Mrs. Newman can be found walking from her residence in the 1100 block of NW 6th Street to Grocery Outlet on NW 5th Street to purchase food and other items for herself and her husband, whom she is the sole caregiver.
