UPDATE: Driver whose car hit Heather Spaulding ticketed for ‘failure to yield in a crosswalk’
Friday, December 20, 2024
by Jeff Noedel
Heather Spaulding was hit by a car late Wednesday afternoon while walking through a crosswalk at Guard St. and Blair Ave. She is the editor of the Journal of the San Juan Islands. She had just parked her car on Culver Ave. and was headed for the high school where a wrestling match was about to start.
While she was in the crosswalk, she was struck by a car. The driver was a 70-year-old male, according to Sheriff Eric Peter. The driver stayed at the scene, where he was ticketed for failing to yield in a crosswalk, a violation of RCW 46.61.261, which is a civil infraction that can result in a fine but not jail time.
Heather was discharged from PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center this afternoon.
RCW 46.61.261: Sidewalks, crosswalks—Pedestrians, bicycles, personal delivery devices.
(1) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device on a sidewalk. The rider of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk or crosswalk. A personal delivery device must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian or a bicycle on a sidewalk or crosswalk.
(2)(a) If a person is found to have committed an infraction under this section within a school, playground, or crosswalk speed zone created under RCW 46.61.440, the person must be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. The penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.
(b) Fifty percent of the moneys collected under this subsection must be deposited into the school zone safety account.
