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Woman killed in Kenmore crosswalk identified

KENMORE, Wash. — Sarah Paulson was killed in a crosswalk Friday morning in Kenmore. The 20 year-old died from her injuries after she was struck by a suspected hit-and-run driver.

Paulson was hit by a car in the 15900 block of Juanita Drive Northeast shortly before 8 a.m. Friday.  She was on her way to catch a bus to Bellevue College.

Police said the victim was in the crosswalk when she was hit.  Paulson was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.  She later died from her injuries.

According to the King County Sheriff's Office, witnesses saw the driver who struck the woman pull his car over, but he did not get out.  He then left the scene.

Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cindi West said the driver later called 911 and said he thought he hit something because he saw damage on the front of his car.  West said the man told the dispatcher that he had gotten out of his car after the incident.

Kwesi Gyesi was booked into the jail for the fatal hit and run.

KIRO 7 went to a listed address for him in Lynnwood.  A woman said from a closed door that he was on his way to work this morning.

Many of Paulson’s friends found out about the accident on Facebook. Betsy and Steve Sanders were Paulson’s coaches for Special Olympics. “She was a really good friend to me and you’d always see her reaching out and helping whoever needed help,” said Betsy Sanders. “It’s not right something like that could happen so quick to somebody with her absolute positive attitude everywhere she went,” added Steve Sanders.

Kwesi Gyesi is scheduled to have a bail hearing Saturday afternoon.

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