A pastor hit by a car in Puyallup died, and police said the young woman who hit him was driving high.
Eric Renz was on his way to volunteer at a meal program for homeless and low-income residents when he was hit November 24. The teen who hit him, Kallie James, was charged with vehicular assault and now is excepted to be charged with vehicular homicide.
Renz, 66, was riding his bicycle near the Washington State fairgrounds when he was hit.
Renz was thrown into air, then into a fence, and rammed by James' car as she crashed into it.
Prosecutors said James was under the influence of prescription drugs and possibly marijuana at the time of the crash. According to a probable cause affidavit she told officers at the scene she couldn’t feel the brake pedal of her car with her feet to stop it.
Renz was a longtime homeless advocate and political activist in Puyallup. He ran for a seat on the state Legislature in early November and was a Presbyterian minister
“If you know Eric you know he’s always the first to forgive someone,” said Kathy Turner, Renz’s friend and a former Puyallup City Councilwoman. “He’s a gentle man, kind soul.”
James pleaded not guilty to a charge of vehicular assault. Her bail was set at $250,000. She is on suicide watch in the Pierce County Jail.
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