Police arrest driver who struck and killed Lime scooter rider, fled scene

A hit and run just before midnight Wednesday left a Lime scooter rider dead and the driver of the SUV that hit him on the run.

Spokane police responded to Crestline Street and Wellesley Avenue and heard reports that a man had been hit by an SUV. The man who was riding a Lime scooter died on scene.

The driver, later identified as Desean Weeks, 21, fled the area. Police arrested him Thursday afternoon, and he was charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run.

Weeks had a bench warrant signed Oct. 3 after he did not appear for a hearing in relation to a 2016 misdemeanor assault charge on Sept. 30.

Shortly after the collision, police located a suspect vehicle at Pittsburg Street and Empire Avenue. The vehicle had rolled over after fleeing the scene of the hit-and-run. Residents in the area reported a male running through yards in the area who police believed was the driver.

Witnesses described the suspect as a Native American man with shoulder length black hair wearing dark clothing and possibly a red flannel jacket.

Police set up a perimeter and used K9s to track the suspect. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Air 1 helicopter also helped in the search. At 6:30 a.m. the police shifted to an investigative approach to looking for the suspect. The roads in the area were cleared of large police activity.

Major crimes collision investigators are investigating the hit-and-run.

Witnesses or individuals with information related to the incident can call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 with reference number 2019-20193476.