New evidence in Skyway hit-and-run case

09:48 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2005

By LINDA BYRON / KING 5 News

SKYWAY, Wash. - An unusual piece of evidence has surfaced as King County detectives make a new appeal in solving a deadly hit-and-run case.

Police said the vehicle that struck Heja Hahn last December left an imprint of a partial license plate number on her pants.

The number 5 was imprinted in the leg of her pants, which is “consistent with the size and width of a license plate number,” said Det. Steve Hager of the King County Sheriff's Office.

He is still looking for more witnesses to the accident.

“It was a busy roadway, it was rush hour, I’m sure some people saw something,” Hager said.

Earlier witnesses described one of the three vehicles involved as a red sedan.

KING

Heja Hahn was killed Dec. 7, 2004 when she was hit by two cars in the Skyway neighborhood of Seattle. Both vehicles fled.

It was a startling but encouraging piece of evidence for Hahn’s daughters.

“Every piece of evidence that comes forward is at the same time difficult to hear and at the same time encouraging…because it’s that much closer to finding the people responsible,” said daughter Eleanor Hahn David.

“We’ll take whatever we can get at this point,” said her other daughter Elisa Hahn (of KING 5 News).

Hager said the first and third vehicles are not believed to be responsible for the fatal impact. He urged the drivers to come forward and said it was unlikely they would face prosecution.

Not long after the accident, neighbors planted a garden in Hahn’s memory. Her daughters said the best way to honor her memory would be for more witnesses to come forward.

There is an $8,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and charging of a suspect in the investigation.

If you have any information, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously at 800-CRIME-13.