Updated Sunday, June 1, 9:45 p.m.
An elderly woman is dead following an alleged hit and run Sunday morning near downtown Astoria.
The Astoria Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash near 16th Street and Irving Avenue around 9:18 a.m. The 77-year-old pedestrian died at the scene. The woman’s name is being withheld as police work to notify next of kin.
A male suspect later identified as 50-year-old Michael Munson Smith allegedly drove away from the scene and then hit a vehicle driven by Astoria resident Carissa Conklin near 17th Street and Irving Avenue.
Officers later located Smith in his van in the 1700 block of Jerome Avenue.
Smith now faces charges of second degree manslaughter, failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons, failure to perform the duties of a driver when property is damaged, driving while under the influence of intoxicants, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving.
Conklin was on her way to pick up a friend when she says the man struck the front of her car, sending her spinning.
“I didn’t even see him, honestly, until I knew he was going to hit me,” Conklin told KMUN, adding, “I knew he was going to hit me and I thought I was going to die.”
Conklin climbed out of the wreckage of her car. Then she and others in the neighborhood took photos of the man’s license plate while he was trying to get his van moving again. Conklin said he backed up, nearly hitting her, and then sped up Jerome Avenue.
The area between 16th and 17th Streets between Grand and Jerome Avenues was impacted for most of the day as police investigated various crimes scenes across a five block area.
The Clatsop County Major Crime Team is assisting with the investigation. Anyone with information about the situation who has not already spoken with investigators is asked to contact Detective Madyson Hanna with the Astoria Police Department at 503-325-4411, or by email at mhann@astoria.gov.