Pedestrian hit in Lake Flora Road accident dies in hospital


December 12, 2011 · 10:11 AM

A South Kitsap man who was struck by a vehicle on SW Lake Flora Road has died from his injuries, the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office reported.

Donald Jack Chindahl Jr., 65, died Friday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. He was found face down on the side of the road by a passerby in the early morning hours of Dec. 1.

According to the sheriff's office, a 2007 Toyota Tundra pickup was waiting not far from the scene. The driver told deputies that he had hit Chindahl because he was distracted by his cellphone and did not see the pedestrian.

Deputies developed probable cause that the driver, who was from Kent, was under the influence of alcohol. The 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, and later released from custody.

Deputy Scott Wilson said in a statement released after Chindahl's death that a Washington State Patrol investigation into the incident must be completed before criminal charges against the driver are filed.

Chindahl is the second South Kitsap pedestrian in the past two weeks to die after being struck by a vehicle. Earlier this month, a man was killed on Sedgwick Road while attempting to cross the roadway in front of his house. The driver in that incident was found not at fault.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.