A man accused of fleeing the scene after fatally striking a motorcyclist while under the influence of drugs last week in Seattle faces multiple criminal charges, authorities said this weekend.
Twenty-six-year-old Payton L. Maddy was arrested Friday on several charges, including felony hit and run, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported. Maddy is accused of crashing into David Harder, a 61-year-old motorcyclist, on Wednesday morning during an apparent attempt to get away from police.
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An experienced car injury attorney will represent Maddy during upcoming court proceedings.
Police on Wednesday morning attempted to contact a man, identified later as Maddy, who was driving a vehicle with invalid license plates, according to court documents. An officer began to follow Maddy, who was driving erratically, according to authorities.
In an apparent attempt to avoid police, Maddy made several sudden turns, eventually turning onto 15th Avenue Northeast, authorities said. He eventually crashed into a motorcycle operated by Harder that was heading south on 15th Avenue Northeast.
Harder was thrown from the motorcycle during the crash, investigators said. He was pronounced dead soon after at a nearby hospital.
Maddy was located hiding in a residential yard nearby about 15 minutes after the crash. Police said he showed signs of intoxication and acknowledged using heroin earlier that day.
Maddy was arrested on charges of felony hit and run, vehicular homicide, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and an ignition interlock violation, prosecutors said.
It is unclear when Maddy is due back in court. Online records don’t list the name of Maddy’s car injury attorney.
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