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Details emerge about pedestrian death in Shelton

A 32-year-old Shelton woman has been charged with one count of vehicular homicide after striking and killing a pedestrian in the road just prior to midnight April 30 on the 1400 block of West Railroad Avenue in Shelton.

According to court documents, Lindsay Ray Hartman is charged in the death of 35-yard-old Rocael Perez Pablo, who was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by Hartman’s car. Hartman’s initial arraignment was Monday in Mason County Superior Court before Judge Daniel Goodell.

According to the Shelton Police report of the accident obtained by the Journal through a public records request, Shelton Police Officer Jared Ford arrived at 11:30 p.m.

When Ford arrived, the scene he saw Pablo lying flat on his back in front of Hartman’s vehicle. Ford checked for a pulse and found Pablo was still breathing. Ford applied CPR when Pablo no longer had a pulse. Central Mason Fire and EMS arrived and tried CPR to save Pablo, according to the police report.

Ford then approached Hartman and asked what happened. Hartman said she was driving home, saw an oncoming car slowing down and “all of the sudden there was this guy standing right in front of her, and he came out of nowhere.” Hartman said she does not remember stopping after the collision and said she was traveling 35 to 40 mph at the time of the accident. When asked about having taken any prescription drugs or illicit narcotics, she said “no,” according to the report. She was asked if she had been drinking and she said “no.” According to the report, Ford observed Hartman had slightly slurred speech and her pupils were not reactive to a flashlight.

Ford asked Hartman whether he could perform some tests and Hartman agreed, failing a few of the tests.

“Based on my training and experience, the slow passage of time is common with people under the influence of marijuana and/or heroin,” the report states. “She was swaying front to back while standing. I observed her fingers were a purplish color, based on my training and experience this is due to poor blood circulation, commonly from narcotic use.”

According to the police report, Ford placed Hartman under arrest and advised her of her rights. She reportedly told police that she used heroin and meth within two days and also said she was on her way to acquire more narcotics.

According to the police report, while photographing the vehicle, Hartman had left the driver door open, and Ford saw a needle in the inside door handle and what appeared to be a loaded syringe in the driver door pocket. Ford also observed a needle cap under the driver seat and a saline vail on the driver side floorboard.

According to the police report, Officer G. Portillo was at the scene as well and spoke with another adult who provided a statement. The witness said Hartman was driving east on West Railroad Avenue when the witness noticed Pablo walking eastbound in the middle of West Railroad Avenue. The witness said Hartman “momentarily pulled over, rolled her driver side window down and attempted to tell the male … to get out of the roadway.” The witness said Pablo did not respond and remained in the road, and “was subsequently struck by Hartman as she was driving westbound on West Railroad.”

Pablo’s next of kin was notified and a trial date has yet to be set following the initial arraignment.

Author Bio

Matt Baide, Reporter

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Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald
Email: [email protected]

 

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