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Driver, victim arguing before fatal hit-and-run, witnesses say

Driver, victim arguing before fatal hit-and-run, witnesses say

Driver, victim arguing before fatal hit-and-run, witnesses say

by OWEN LEI / KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on December 17, 2011 at 12:04 PM

Updated Sunday, Dec 18 at 1:37 PM

TACOMA - Tacoma police believe the driver in a fatal hit-and-run intentionally struck the victim.

It happened Friday night on South J and 43rd Street in Tacoma.

Police say 45-year-old Michelle Johnson of Burien was standing in the intersection when she was hit by an SUV. She died at the scene.

"They were still doing CPR when I got out and walked up on her,” said Bob Johnson.

But unlike many hit-and-runs, this one had plenty of witnesses, likely because of what happened right up the street minutes before the crash.

"They were arguing!" said Dan Watkins.

"There were three people, they got out of the car, were screaming at each other," said Rhianda Dillon.

Several neighbors say the fight involved Michelle, her daughter, and the woman driving the SUV.
    
Dan Watkins said he walked by but didn't get involved.

"Just a domestic, leave it alone, don't bother, they'll work it out,” he said.

Dillon watched from her window

"They were all screaming at each other and then the mother wound up hitting the driver in the face,” she said.

Witnesses say they saw Michelle walk off down the sidewalk. But what happened next is why everyone's still in shock.

"The driver sat there for just a minute," said Dillon. "We just saw it speed off and then turn a little to the side, then heard a big crash like thing."

"I’ve seen people fighting around here, but it never gets that bad,” said Watkins.

Police say the SUV driver took off but later turned herself in. She's been booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second degree murder.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 15 of 23

charleylechein said on December 19, 2011 at 3:56 PM

charleylechein avatar

Witnesses say they saw Michelle walk off down the sidewalk. But what happened next is why everyone's still in shock. Police say 45-year-old Michelle Johnson of Burien was standing in the intersection when she was hit by an SUV. She died at the scene................ guess she jumped from the sidewalk and into the intersection where she was hit. Either way, sad for all.KNIG5 should hire employees ro write up these stories rather than middle school interns and not pay them with e tsxting plan cause they dont send text messages, they want a sexting messsaging plan

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Cindylove said on December 19, 2011 at 2:20 PM

I would like to offer free funeral services to this family if anyone can please pass my number along 206-850-5166 ask for Cindy

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Ryker99169 said on December 18, 2011 at 2:54 PM

To the Editor: Thank you for adding additional information. although I firmly believe that full names should never be published. this causes the families even more heart ache and embarassment. To the families of both ladies I am sorry for your losses.

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dkjamerican said on December 18, 2011 at 2:48 PM

Cold blooded murder & without a gun. Anyone for temporary insanity plea?

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btvsrcks said on December 18, 2011 at 1:53 PM

@phxaz bad form to call people dumb and then spell something wrong. You were looking for 'you're' not 'your'

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Leonaf said on December 18, 2011 at 12:05 PM

Wow!! This is scary>Where is life taking everyone in this world today. If they were arguing previous and the end results was one to kill the other. Things happen, EVERYDAY, and we can get so trapped in them to the point that 99% of the time we are so off balance from reality. May God have mercy on the killers soul for what ever the deceased did or said to the killer to make her this disturbed.

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butch70 said on December 18, 2011 at 10:14 AM

butch70 avatar

Prison time for the driver in this hit and run incident. Arguning and then run over a person because you are mad is a no no.

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said on December 18, 2011 at 9:20 AM

they werent fighting over a "dude" they were fighting over gas money,earlier i made it sound like the driver was drunk, it was not the driver that was drunk,it was the deceased that was drunk&punched the driver,then the driver said she was gonna call cops&the deceased walked away&well i guess she maybe meant she was gonna call the cops AFTER she killed her cause she waited til then to call them. it was crazy to see believe me.

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mugbeer said on December 18, 2011 at 8:34 AM

I hope they arrested the car. It was probably one of those assault cars with 600 horsepower. Nobody needs that. Did it have a high capacity gas tank?

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phxaz said on December 18, 2011 at 8:32 AM

@weardoomed, why do you have to inject race into this story? As if white people never get in fights and kill each other. Your an idiot and I feel sorry for your family for having to deal with you. Although, you family is probably just as dumb as you are so they likely don't notice any problems.

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americnharly190 said on December 17, 2011 at 10:19 PM

First off the girl is insane. Secondly why is she only being charged with second degree murder? Because it was the car that actually hit her, and not the driver ( like vehicular homicide) She should be incarcerated for the rest of her life.

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banditrider said on December 17, 2011 at 10:07 PM

Probably fighting over a dude. They'd been watching too much Jersey Shore or Kardashians.

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wearedoomed said on December 17, 2011 at 7:56 PM

Did this happen at Snohomish High School? 4 days ago a white girl was kicked in the face, dragged across the parking lot by a Mexican girl the video was posted on YouTube and removed within hours. I guess Snohomish can't take the heat.

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said on December 17, 2011 at 7:36 PM

i saw it happen&yes the deceased did punch the driver(she was drunk) while arguing about gas money but no reason to kill someone...

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Ryker99169 said on December 17, 2011 at 5:32 PM

What were not seeing here is what were the cicumstances behind this. Was deceased victim shooting at the driver? was the driver escaping from captivity? or was it as stupid as you kissed my boyfriend. drugs? ages of the ladies would of been nice also.

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maxxcor said on December 17, 2011 at 4:30 PM

Dang Gurl Murder is NEVER a good idea. I wonder what really happened.

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bellevuetom said on December 17, 2011 at 4:04 PM

@dquantgt.......yes they did change it. If you would have seen the original heading, the first sentence said. FEMALE Pedstrian, blah, blah.......you would have understood my comment. It is sad about the person that died.

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ccole said on December 17, 2011 at 3:58 PM

Time to outlaw cars because you can kill people with them.

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snakepliskin said on December 17, 2011 at 3:35 PM

Boyfriend problems?

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dquangt said on December 17, 2011 at 3:22 PM

@bellevuetom maybe they changed it but it doesn't say "Female pedestrian..." anymore. plus, does it matter if it did? i mean, it WAS a female so its not like they were reporting the wrong info.

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bellevuetom said on December 17, 2011 at 2:28 PM

First of all.......may she RIP. Now...Why does the headline start off FEMALE Pedestrian......Does it really matter if this person was Male or female? The last line says, ......the two women knew each other and might have been arguing just before the crash? How can a hit and run on a PERSON, be considered a crash? Doesn't make sense.

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conseula said on December 17, 2011 at 2:28 PM

Oh boy..Knew each other..had an argument..Sounds more like a homicide charge to me..

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bazwest said on December 17, 2011 at 1:45 PM

harsh

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