Deadly, decade-old hit and run case still unsolved

RENTON - 2001—Terry DeLappe was hit by two vehicles; Troopers still searching for drivers It was March 24th, 2001 when Terry DeLappe crossed the street on Highway 515 at the intersection of 235th, and was hit by two different cars. Trooper Julie Judson with the Washington State Patrol says, "He actually lifted up and was thrown some distance before he landed in the right lane and then was hit by a white Nissan Sentra.” Detectives say that Terry was hit by a van first and then the car. It was 7:41pm, but no one stopped to help him. “Terry was my best friend,” says Linda, Terry’s younger sister who has looked for answers for almost 12 years. “I want to find out who did this so I can go to sleep without feeling bad.” Greg DeLappe is Terry’s youngest brother but grew up in a different home. He says he never really got to know him explaining,  “I was with him for a couple of years . What little I got to know of him , I would have wanted to know him better.” Police do have one clue to go on from that terrible night. A waitness overheard a phone call at a grocery store payphone just a few feet away from the incident. Judson says, “we did receive a report from someone who was in the area at Safeway,  overheard a white female at a pay phone saying he was hoping he was not dead ,and she had left her vehicle was at the scene. Troopers arrived at the collision and didn’t find a vehicle.” Still, police want to find this woman and anyone else who knows anything about the dark passenger van or the white Nissan Sentra believed to be responsible for Terry’s death. “We really are hoping that someone with information about someone who believe they know someone who was involved in a hit and run, anything that may have been heard or if a vehicle is even close to that description, we’d love to find out about it,” Judson said. And Terry’s little brother has a message for those responsible, “I don’t know how you can live with yourself and sleep at night knowing you took someone’s life and didn’t even stop to lend aid. To me that’s as bad as shooting someone and leaving them for dead.” Officers say that there was likely damage done to the front right passenger side of the darn colored passenger van. If you have any information about this crime, call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive the cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers