Witness to hit and run: 'I’ve never witnessed something so cold' | Crime

WASHOUGAL, Wash. - Washington State Patrol troopers arrested a man they said fled after another man fell from a convertible and died on Saturday afternoon.

29-year-old Russell H. Amon of Vancouver was driving the convertible and didn't stick around after his passenger fell out, according to Trooper Ryan Tanner. He faces one count of hit and run, although more charges could be filed, Tanner said.

Tanner said alcohol was a factor in the incident and that detectives are still investigating.

34-year-old Jose Gonzalez-Ramirez fell from the Mercedes convertible and was found dead on the highway. The incident happened Saturday afternoon on State Road 14 just outside Washougal.

Dee-Anna Janku was riding in a car several vehicles back from the convertible when Gonzalez-Ramirez fell.

She said he was standing up in the back seat goofing around when the convertible sped up to pass someone. Gonzalez-Ramirez fell out and landed on his head.

“We were certain there was no hope,” Janku said. “Immediately when we got there it was pretty obvious he hadn’t survived the fall.”

A cardiologist and four nurses all happened to be in the area. They performed chest compressions but could not find a pulse.

When paramedics arrived, they tried unsuccessfully to shock Gonzalez-Ramirez back to life, Janku said.

She said Gonzalez-Ramirez was only wearing swim trunks and had a cast on his foot.

After the fall, Janku said Amon stopped and turned around. The car circled back by Gonzalez-Ramirez lying on the road then sped off, she said.

“I’ve never witnessed something so cold as that man turning around and driving off,” Janku said.

Janku said as horrific as it was to witness the fall, she’s glad her children in the back seat weren’t looking up at the time. Their attention was elsewhere and she managed to keep them shielded from view after they stopped.

Tanner said Amon faces hit and run charges because drivers have a responsibility to stay at the scene when they're involved in a situation where somebody is hurt, even if they're the only driver involved.