Sweet Home police arrested a 19-year-old Sweet Home man in connection with what police are describing as a hit-and-run accident that left a 13-year-old girl with minor injuries on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Tylor Alen Jackson was charged with felony hit and run and with reckless driving, a misdemeanor.
Police Chief Jeff Lynn was traveling east on Long Street at about 2:27 p.m. when he observed a northbound white four-door vehicle turn east from 18th Avenue to Long Street.
He heard tires squealing and observed the vehicle accelerating quickly on Long Street, Lynn said. By the time he reached the School District’s Central Office, the vehicle was already at 22nd Avenue and continuing east on Long behind a vehicle traveling at an appropriate speed.
That vehicle turned north onto 23rd, and the white vehicle accelerated again, Lynn said.
The chief activated his lights as he reached 24th Avenue, Lynn said. “At that point, the vehicle was turning onto Mountain View” and he heard tires squealing again. Following, Lynn estimated the vehicle’s speed at 75 to 80 mph about four blocks ahead on Mountain View.
The chief slowed down as he approached Sweet Home Junior High School and lost sight of the white vehicle. School had let out for early release day and students were in the area.
He reached the intersection of Mountain View and Ames Creek roads and didn’t see the vehicle. He immediately saw a group of children, three females, with one of them lying on the ground.
They said the vehicle had gone south on Ames Creek Road, Lynn said. The girl on the ground had been grazed by the vehicle and had visible injuries, scrapes and bruises on her right side.
Medics responded to assess and treat her but did not transport her to the hospital, Lynn said. The girl’s parents responded and picked up all three girls.
The girls described the vehicle coming down Mountain View, Lynn said. They were at the stop sign.
Approaching the intersection, Mountain View curves to the left and downhill.
“It appeared that the vehicle had lost control coming down,” Lynn said. The brakes were locked up as the driver appeared to be trying to turn. After striking the girl, the vehicle sped away.
Additional officers, including deputies with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Forest Service law enforcement, responded to the area to search for the vehicle.
Eventually, the alleged driver’s parents contacted police and were cooperative, Lynn said.
“It took us a couple of hours to find the vehicle, a 1992 Honda Accord.”
Eventually, the suspect walked out of the woods along Ames Creek Drive, and officers took him into custody, booking, citing and releasing him to his parents, Lynn said. During the subsequent investigation, the suspect denied seeing the lights or an officer behind him. The suspect is a high school student and had departed from the high school.
With the schools letting out at that time and students headed home, Lynn said, “we’re fortunate.”