Driver charged with hit-and-run in Dec. 23 fatal crash in West Salem

A Salem woman is accused of leaving the scene of a collision that left a man dead on Dec. 23 in West Salem.

A Polk County grand jury on Jan. 30 indicted Micah L. Blacksmith, 34, on a single charge of failure to perform duties of a driver to seriously injured persons.

The Salem Police Department said in a news release that Blacksmith turned herself in to the Polk County Jail on Tuesday. Court records show she was released on bail.

Steven C. Bishop, 63, of Salem, died in the crash on Northwest Murlark Avenue, just north of Northwest Edgewater Street.

The police statement did not explain why Blacksmith was only charged with felony hit-and-run and not with causing Bishop’s death. Previous police statements and available court documents do not detail how the crash occurred or who was at fault.

Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton declined to explain the charge and the six-week delay in arresting Blacksmith.

Attorney John Knodell, who is representing Blacksmith, declined to comment on the charge.

Under state law, criminal charges related to vehicular homicide require that the driver’s conduct was reckless or negligent. 

The indictment alleged that Blacksmith failed to stop and “reasonably investigate” what she struck or “render reasonable assistance” to Bishop.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, Salem police responded to a report of a man injured at the intersection of Edgewater Street and Murlark Avenue. Responding paramedics pronounced Bishop dead at the scene.

Police said at the time that a driver struck Bishop then left the scene.

A week later, Salem police asked for the public’s help in finding what it described as a “vehicle of interest” captured on video minutes before officers responded to the crash.

Surveillance video that evening near where Bishop was found showed the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee heading east on Edgewater Street, approaching Murlark Avenue.

Blacksmith is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on Feb. 26. 

This story was updated after Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton declined to comment.

RELATED COVERAGE: 

Police seek “vehicle of interest” seen near fatal hit-and-run in West Salem

Man, 63, dies in suspected hit-and-run in West Salem on Monday night

Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.

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