Auburn woman arrested as suspect in fatal hit-and-run

A judge found probable cause for DUI and vehicular homicide charges for a 52-year-old Auburn woman arrested in connection with a Sept. 15 hit-and-run in Auburn.

The statement of probable cause written by Auburn Police Officer Bryce Barager, who investigated the incident, offers more details into the crash at approximately 9:15 p.m., when an adult male motorcyclist was hit and killed at the intersection of South Peasley Canyon Road and West Valley Highway South.

When the officer arrived on scene, Valley Regional Fire Authority paramedics were providing aid to the motorcyclist, who ended up succumbing to his injuries, Barager said. A Kawasaki motorcycle with severe damage was down in the middle of the road.

A damaged license plate belonging to a Honda Ridgeline registered to a 52-year-old Auburn woman was also found at the scene of the crash, according to Barager. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the address connected to the license plate and found the Ridgeline with front-end damage, according to the report.

Barager went to the address and saw the Ridgeline’s front end had caved in, the airbags were deployed, and later, a piece of the motorcycle was found lodged in the front of the car, Barager said.

Along with sheriff’s deputies, Barager made contact with the residents and asked to speak with the person who had been driving the Honda. The woman said she had been driving, but denied any collision. Barager arrested her because she reportedly smelled of intoxicants and appeared to be under the influence, and he believed she was under the influence at the time of the collision, Barager said.

Further investigation led Barager to develop probable cause for vehicular homicide. She is not being named in this story because she has not been officially charged.