The King County Sheriff’s Department announced Thursday morning (Nov. 19th) that they need help in finding the vehicle that struck and critically injured Jeff Kearney, who was struck in a White Center crosswalk on Tuesday.

Kearney, 36, well-known in Burien as part of “Team Clean Sweep,” was crossing 16th Ave SW in the crosswalk at SW 106th. The suspect vehicle was southbound on 16th when it struck him. The vehicle slowed but did not stop and was last seen driving off southbound on 16th.

Kearney was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, where he remains.

According to police, a driver’s side exterior mirror was found at the scene. There will also be damage to the left front fender.

The vehicle is probably maroon in color, a Chevrolet or GMC product, and is likely one of the following models:

• GM or Chevrolet full size pick-up: 1988-1989
• Blazer or Jimmy: 1992-1994
• Suburban: 1992-1999
• GMC Yukon: 1992-1999
• Chevrolet Tahoe: 1995-1999

If anyone recognizes the suspect vehicle they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

PREVIOUSLY:

Sad news for the area – a hit and run accident late Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 17th) on 16th SW in White Center has put Jeff Kearney in critical condition in a medically-induced coma in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Jeff is known to most everyone in Burien as a huge part of “Team Clean Sweep,” and you’ve probably seen him or talked to him at one of the city’s many local events over the last several years. Despite being mentally-challenged, he is a very happy, gregarious, kind and hard-working 36-year old who seemingly knows everyone in town (especially the ladies).

On a personal note, we would often see Jeff at the weekly Farmer’s Market, and he’d always ask us how we were doing, where Janet was, how our parents were, how our spouses were and more, and we thoroughly enjoyed his company.

According to the King County Sheriff’s Department, the hit and run happened around 5:33pm Tuesday (Nov. 17th), when Jeff was crossing a marked crosswalk in White Center. The suspect vehicle was driving southbound on 16th SW at around 35mph, and struck him while he was still in the crosswalk, throwing Jeff some 30 feet. The vehicle, identified as a black SUV or truck, slowed down, then took off southbound on 16th. Reports are that an external side rear-view mirror fell off the vehicle. The driver is still at large.

“Jeff’s in a medically-induced coma right now,” said Mike Lindorff, his legal guardian and uncle. “He’s got minor fractures on his back and face, but the most concerning thing right now is that he has bleeding on the brain. They have drilled a hole in his head and are trying to reduce pressure so they can wake him up, and they won’t know if he has brain damage until then.”

Everyone here at The B-Town Blog, especially the ladies who were all well-known by him, send our hopes, prayers and meditations to our friend Jeff Kearney for a full and speedy recovery.

We ask also that our Readers take a moment to look at Jeff’s photo and send positive vibes his way.

Also, according to Debra George, who worked closely with Jeff:

“If you’d like to drop anything off you can drop it off at the Mark Restaurant & Bar (918 SW 152nd Street) and I will make sure it gets to him as soon as he is out of ICU.

Thank you for your kindness.”

On another note, we hope that the police catch the hit and run driver and that justice is fully served.

If you have any information on a suspect black SUV or truck that is missing a side rear-view mirror, please call 911 immediately.

A King County Sheriff’s deputy who was speeding toward a burglary call in White Center was seriously injured in a rollover crash early Friday morning as he lost control of his vehicle on Des Moines Memorial Way near 17th Place South.

According to the report, the officer was racing to a burglary call around 2:15am when he lost control of the car and rolled down a 20-foot embankment in the 10000 block of Des Moines Memorial Way. When the deputy’s car went off the roadway it took down a part of a cyclone fence along the edge of the sidewalk. One of the fence rails went through the vehicle windshield and impaled the shoulder harness the deputy was wearing. The harness ended up around the deputy’s neck and he was unconscious when found.

The deputy, age 30, has been with the Sheriff’s Office, working for the city of Burien for just over 1½ years. His identity has not yet been released.

Three residents nearby ran to the accident after hearing the crash, and a passing deputy in route to the same White Center call stopped. They were able to pull out the smashed windshield and pole, likely saving the life of the deputy.

It took the fire department about ½ hour to extradite the deputy from his vehicle, and they had to cut off the top of the car to do so. He was taken to Harborview Hospital and is in serious but stable condition.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Here’s the latest from Pasado’s Safe Haven on “Scatt,” the severely injured cat we reported on Tuesday that was the victim of a man who “gutted” it with a box cutter; the man, 47, was arrested in White Center Sunday on animal cruelty charges.

According to Pasado, “Scatt” endured surgery to close an 8” gaping wound; peritonitis (infection of the pericardial region in the gut area) could be present so blood work was sent to a lab. Scatt is eating, alert, and standing, despite being in pain – what a trooper!

Here’s more from their website, including a way you can donate to help this poor feline:

It was a call that will leave us with nightmares; but our pain is no where near to what “Scatt” endured.

The good news? We believe he will recover.

“A cat,” the sheriff’s deputy told us, panic in his voice, “has been hurt so horribly, I can’t even look at the wounds.”

The veteran deputy who had investigated murders, now faced an animal cruelty case of untold horror. “Scatt”, he told us, was a therapy cat who resided at a church, just south of Seattle, Washington. He spent the last decade helping those who were trying to turn their lives around. In the end, one of those very people turned on him.

BROKEN RIBS – 8” KNIFE WOUND – PERFORATED LUNG –

It is a story of profound sadness, but thanks to those who acted quickly, Scatt may survive.

“Scatt” was a homeless cat who found his way to the doorstep of The Cross Church in South Seattle. The people there named him Scatt, for when they first told him to find his way home, he simply wouldn’t leave. And it was a good thing – he found kindness, and a forever home in the arms of the church staff and volunteers.

Over the last ten years, he became a “therapy cat” for humans who too were homeless, and like Scatt, down on their luck. He provided unconditional love to those who had nothing, and would curl up in the laps of complete strangers, purring.

Today, one of the very rehabilitation clients he helped, viciously attacked Scatt, nearly gutting him.

PERP ARRESTED!
According to The Cross Church’s Rehabilitation Director (who was “Scatt’s boss” during therapeutic sessions with the homeless or indigent) the perpetrator admitted to attacking Scatt. Sheriff’s deputies quickly arrested the man and booked him on First Degree Felony Animal Cruelty charges – punishable up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The man, they learned, had multiple outstanding warrants against him.

Pasado’s Safe Haven teams up with veterinarians
It’s great news to know that the coward who allegedly attacked this innocent being, is in a jail cell. The courts will take care of him. But now, we need to take care of Scatt.

We need your help to support the life-saving care needed for Scatt, who is in the care of an excellent veterinary team at a south Seattle veterinary hospital. Scatt has already endured surgery to close the 8” “collarbone to tail” wound that was inflicted with a knife. His prognosis is “guarded”, the vets told us, and “optimistic”. We have every paw crossed that this little guy will make it.

Will you help? Any amount would be so appreciated. Please donate here.

No adoption – Scatt’s church “family” wants him back – they adore him!
In addition to paying for Scatt’s medical bills, we asked if he needed long-term care at Pasado’s Safe Haven, and even an adoptive home. “No, we love him!” we were told. His family, for the last ten years, wants him back. And although we’d love to be able to wrap our arms around him and help him into his future, we know that the church, and the humans there, are his family. We’re just glad we can make him whole by helping with the medical bills. Thanks to you.

Please check pasadosafehaven.org frequently. We’ll be posting updates and photos often. And thank you for this little being, who most likely walked up to the man who hurt him, thinking he was his friend.

PLEASE DONATE HERE, and keep hoping that that “optimistic” prognosis comes true.

If you experience any problems with our donation form please contact us at 360.793.9393.