CleanScapes driver suspected in hit-and-run; company told by police

SEATTLE -- A garbage truck driver for Recology CleanScapes was responsible for the fatal hit-and-run that killed a woman around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of James Street, police said.

Recology CleanScapes said no driver came forward immediately after the crash, and the company was first informed of the hit-and-run by police.

"Recology CleanScapes was made aware of the situation by the Seattle Police Department," a spokesperson for Recology Cleanscapes said.

The company is cooperating with law enforcement, and offered its "deepest condolences" to the victim.

The King County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 42-year-old Rebecca Scollard. The cause of death was ruled an accident.

Seattle police have not yet made any arrests and no charges have been filed in the case.

It may be possible that due to the size of the truck, the driver didn't know someone was underneath, police said.

After striking the pedestrian and dragging her nearly a block, the driver took off police said. The victim was killed instantly.

Witnesses at the crash scene said they watched as the driver drove down the road with the woman trapped underneath.

“I was very shocked,” the witness said. “I thought maybe it was fake, couldn’t believe it was actually happening. It was very hard to see, very gruesome. Somebody tried to chase down the truck … but the truck at that point was already gone.”