A man was injured after being struck by a car in a crosswalk at the main intersection in the downtown Juanita area of Kirkland Wednesday night. His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.
The incident occurred at about 9:20 p.m., less than four hours after an armed robbery of the Juanita Village Wells Fargo Bank just a block away. See that story by clicking here.
The 17-year-old driver of the car told police he saw the traffic light signal turn, and then took a right onto northbound 98th Ave NE from westbound NE 116th Street.
The victim was hit in a marked crosswalk, and suffered apparent head injuries, possibly a skull fracture and other broken bones. He was taken by an aid unit to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
“He was conscious and he had no life threatening injuries,” said Kirkland Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Dettmer.
The young driver was shaken by the incident but not injured. Kirkland police said there was no sign he was impaired and he cooperated fully during the investigation.
Kirkland Police Department Sgt. Rob Saloum said an officer was on scene almost immediately after the pedestrian was hit, and that driving conditions were not good, both dark and rainy.
Several Kirkland Patch readers and contacts reported intense police activity Wednesday night in Juanita, just after the bank robbery and again after the pedestrian was struck, the latter incident blocking the intersection by police and fire department activity. “Good God! What a night for Kirkland,” said one.
