Hit and run investigation continues

TULALIP While they released few details, the Snohomish County Sheriff's office believes investigators have found the Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in a hit and run fatality April 2.

They also believe they have discovered the driver of the Jeep who apparently is not the vehicle's owner, according to sheriff's office Public Information Officer Rebecca Hover.

Officials have identified the suspect only as a 41-year-old Snohomish man. According to Hover, the incident remains under investigation and the alleged driver of the jeep has not been arrested. Until or if charges are filed and an arrest made, Hover added the sheriff's office will not release any further information about the man.

Described by Hover as a hit-and-run, the incident under investigation took place early the morning of April 2. A driver headed south on I-5 spotted the body of a woman in the 12400 block of 34th Avenue NE. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office later identified the victim as Nicole Cheek, 58, of Marysville. Again according to the medical examiner, Cheek died of blunt force trauma to the torso and legs. The examiner's office is listing the official cause of death as an accident.

According to Hover, there is no information on why Cheek was walking on the street, where she was coming from or going to.

As of April 4, Hover said investigators believed Cheek was walking north on 34th near the east shoulder of the road and was struck by a passing vehicle. Sheriff reports estimated the time of the collision as between 4:45 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. On the day after the incident, Hover reported evidence found at the scene indicated the involvement of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. For a short time, officials also were studying an apparently abandoned motorcycle found near the scene of the accident.

According to Hover, because there has been no arrest, sheriff investigators have declined to discuss what led them to the Jeep or the suspect. She did say the vehicle has been confiscated as possible evidence. A complete investigation could take up to a couple of months, Hover added. Whenever the investigation is complete, information will be turned over to the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office, who will then decide whether or not charges will be filed.

Hover emphasized that while officials believe they have found the vehicle and driver involved in the incident, anyone with further information should call the sheriff's tip line at 425-388-3845.

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