PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man who was allegedly sleeping on a side roadway off Lincoln Street when he was hit and dragged by a vehicle Monday evening remained in serious condition Thursday at Olympic Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
The driver who allegedly ran into the man was issued a traffic infraction for driving too fast for conditions, police said.
Travis M. Larsen, 40, was in serious condition following the incident, hospital spokeswoman Bobby Beeman said.
The driver of the 1991 Ford Bronco, Donald R. Smith, 58, of Port Angeles was cited for third-degree driving while license suspended and issued infractions for not having insurance and driving too fast for conditions.
Smith’s court appearance is Dec. 4 in Port Angeles District Court.
Larsen, who police said was a transient, was hit in the roadway off Lincoln Street leading to the Peabody Creek RV Park, 127 S. Lincoln St., at about 6:30 p.m., according to Port Angeles Police Cpl. Bruce Fernie’s report.
The side street is a block south of the city’s main intersection at First and Lincoln streets.
Larsen, who was wearing dark clothing and a dark backpack, was bleeding from injuries to his head and right hand when Fernie arrived.
Larsen, who smelled of alcohol, told Fernie he had been struck by a bicycle, Fernie said in his report.
Larsen also said he had been struck and dragged down the road.
There was a 10-foot scuff mark on the pavement that led to Larsen, said Fernie.
Larsen had been contacted “many times” by Fernie about sleeping in parks and on sidewalks, Fernie said.
Smith said he had pulled into the roadway leading to the RV park when his vehicle stopped abruptly.
When he got out of the vehicle, he saw Larsen lying under it, then “backed his vehicle off Travis,” according to Fernie’s report.
A woman who called 9-1-1 said she saw Smith backing up his vehicle and saw Larsen under it.
Fernie said Smith’s vehicle was not damaged and that dust on the front was not disturbed.
Fernie said that Smith’s statement, the condition of his vehicle and Larsen’s intoxicated state led him to believe Larsen was sleeping on the roadway when he was struck by Smith’s vehicle.
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
