PORT ANGELES — A 23-year-old Port Angeles woman was injured when a vehicle driven by City Council candidate Travis Berglund hit her at Front and Jones streets on Monday, police said.
Officers were dispatched at 3:41 p.m. to the collision at the 1100 block of East Front St., police said in a prepared statement.
The pedestrian was identified as Natasha N. Taylor, whose legs were injured.
“I’m still in shock,” Berglund said early this morning. “I’m just praying for this girl and her family.”
Medics attended to Taylor, who was lying in the street and was later transported to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
OMC spokeswoman Bobby Beeman said later this morning that Taylor was treated and discharged.
“I’m thankful,” Berglund said upon learning Taylor was released from the hospital, adding he is still shaken.
“I’m still wondering what the result is,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with her.”
Police, who are investigating the collision, said Taylor had been walking north across Front Street at the intersection of Front and Jones.
Berglund, driving a Dodge truck, was stopped for a stop sign on Jones Street facing south at Front Street.
“Berglund was checking for vehicular traffic to his left on the one-way street of Front Street,” police said in the statement.
“Berglund made a right turn onto Front Street, knocking Taylor to the ground and ran over her legs with both front and rear tires.”
Berglund said he did not look to his right when he made the turn.
“There was no traffic for a block and a half,” he said.
“It was not like I was going out fast and trying to get out.
“I just rolled around the corner and honestly with her height it would have been hard to see.”
Police said Berglund stopped his vehicle and asked onlookers to call 9-1-1.
Police said Berglund did not exhibit any signs of impairment.
Witnesses were contacted by police shortly after the incident but they need to identify anyone else who may have seen the collision and are asking anyone with information to call Police Corp. C. Rife at 360 452-4545.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
