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Hit-and-run victim asks for justice

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — In the blink of an eye, the unavoidable violent impact changed Conrad Lillis forever. Seconds before the bone-shattering collision, he was on his way to pick up a friend who needed a ride. In the next instant, recalls a blinding flash of headlights racing toward him—in his lane. His car was crushed by a Mercedes SUV. Lillis was bleeding profusely. His back was broken, so were his ribs and his arm was shattered in 14 places.

“The driver of the other car decided not to stick around, so he got out, and ran into the woods,” Conrad said, while visiting the North Road crash site for the first time since it happened, in early January. The driver who hit Lillis left the SUV right where it stopped.

Lillis recalls being cut out of the mangled wreckage with the jaws of life. “Scariest noise ever,” he said, adding, I still have nightmares.” While paramedics were working to free Lillis from twisted metal, some eyewitnesses saw teenaged-looking girls get out of the SUV, take a look at the crash scene, and quickly leave in a red Mustang. Lillis believes the group was street-racing. “They’re at home playing Xbox, thinking they got away with murder,” he said.

Snohomish County detectives tell KIRO 7 the owner of the SUV lent the vehicle to a relative, who adamantly denies being the driver that night. Conrad Lillis is left with staggering medical bills he can’t afford, along with the gnawing question: “Who did this to me?”

Lillis told KIRO 7 he’s trying to make an appeal to any number of people keeping the answer a secret. He’s asking for simple justice; a police tip about the driver, and what led up to the crash—so he can begin healing his mind, as well as his broken body. “Anybody, just come forward,” Lillis said. “And just say ‘this guy did it!”

Below is the original Snohomish County Bulletin with the anonymous tip line, and a link set up by Lillis’ family and friends to help with the cost of his growing medical bills. Lillis had no insurance at the time of the crash.

Snohomish County detectives are seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed a hit-and-run near the 17100 block of North Rd. in unincorporated Snohomish County between Bothell and Mill Creek.  The collision occurred around 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, January 12th and left the driver of one of the involved vehicles severely injured.

Specifically, detectives are looking for the driver and/or owner of a newer red or burgundy Mustang that drove through the scene shortly after the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 425-388-3845