A 78-year-old Washington man is accused of striking and killing a woman with his truck, leaving her lying in the road and later repeatedly responding “whatever” when investigators told him the charges he was facing, authorities said.
John F. Bligh, 78, has been charged with vehicular homicide, hit-and-run causing death and reckless driving, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim was identified as 73-year-old Karen Miller, according to KXLY.
Deputies were called to the area of North Perry Road and East Appaloosa Lane, just north of Spokane city limits, at around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday after reports that a pedestrian had been struck.
Callers told authorities that the driver had left the scene while Miller remained “lying in the road.”
Emergency crews treated her before transporting her to a nearby hospital with what authorities described as potentially life-threatening injuries.
She later died.
As deputies investigated the crash, they reportedly spotted Bligh driving past the scene in his truck.
Officers stopped him and said they noticed visible damage to the vehicle, including a missing mirror.
Bligh allegedly told investigators he had consumed “a couple glasses” of wine at a bar before leaving to go to the grocery store.
Authorities said he then failed three field sobriety tests and registered a blood alcohol concentration of .065 on a breath test.
Investigators also reviewed nearby surveillance footage, which they said showed Bligh driving about 50 mph in a 25 mph zone as Miller crossed Perry Road.
The footage reportedly showed the truck braking before swerving and striking her.
According to KXLY, when investigators later informed Bligh of the charges he was facing, he showed little emotion and responded “whatever” multiple times.
Bligh was taken to jail, where his bail was set at $150,000.
He is scheduled to enter a plea on Sept. 9.
The callous disregard that people have for their fellow humans is mind blowing. This POS needs to spend the rest of his life behind bars. And $150,000 bond is not nearly enough. He can bond out with $15,000 and be free as a bird.
It’s Washington State …. whatever!!!