Woman attacked from behind, hit in head with baseball bat on hiking trail



THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. -- An attack on a popular hiking trail has walkers and cyclists on guard in Thurston County.

A man on a bike hit a woman with an aluminum baseball bat Sunday on the Chehalis-Western Trail near Olympia.

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office says a woman was walking just north of 26th Avenue and never saw the attack coming -- a man on a bike approached her from behind and smacked her on the head.

Investigators said witnesses helped the victim call police. Right now, they believe this is a random incident.

"She's calling out and saying 'help' and another family sees this and actually had seen who we believe is the person so they were able to give us a great deal of detail," said Lt. Paul Counts.

"It's too early to tell if it's connected but indeed there have been other situations where a bicyclist has come up behind some women and smacked them on the bottom," Counts said. "And in one case hit the individual hard enough that it actually moved her forward slightly, but it's too early to tell if it's the same person."

Concerned walkers and cyclists say this is just another reminder to always be aware of your surroundings.

"Enjoy the trail but have someone along with you because there is safety in numbers."

The woman was hurt, but her injuries are not life-threatening.



Call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office if you have any information that could help.