Welfare Check Leads To Discovery Of Deceased Suspect Of Hit-and-run Investigation -08/17/17

On Monday, August 14th, 2017 at approximately 12:45 PM, Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a vehicle versus pedestrian hit-and-run traffic collision in the 1400 block of NE Yaquina Heights Drive in Newport. The pedestrian sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle fled the scene eastbound on NE Yaquina Heights Drive. Through the victim's statements and surveillance footage, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Newport Police Department investigators were able to determine the vehicle involved was a silver 2011-2016 Ford F-250 or F-350 with an extended cab, canopy, and "Oregon Veteran" license plates. On Wednesday, August 18th, 2017 at approximately 6:00 PM, a citizen requested a welfare check on a neighbor; 61 year old Bend, OR resident David Lee Black. Mr. Black had not been heard from since Monday evening when he left a phone message for the caller of the welfare check. Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the rural residence east of Siletz and observed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle from the hit and run. Deputies entered a camp trailer on the property and found Mr. Black deceased inside. Mr. Black's death was determined to be an apparent suicide. No foul play is suspected. Sheriff's Office collision reconstructionists were summoned to the scene to examine the vehicle. The silver 2015 Ford F-250 was processed by the collision reconstructionists and forensic evidence was obtained. The damage profile present on the vehicle was consistent with both the events of the pedestrian collision on Yaquina Heights Drive and the victim's injuries. The victim identified Mr. Black as the driver of the vehicle that hit him from a photograph of Mr. Black's driver license. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office thanks the Newport Police Department, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicle Services, and the public for their assistance in this investigation. ### Respectfully submitted by: Mark Meister, Administrative Patrol Sergeant Lincoln County Sheriff's Office 225 W. Olive St. Newport, Oregon 97365 Phone: 541-265-0684 Fax: 541-265-4917 mmeister@co.lincoln.or.us