A person driving a white Subaru wagon (Legacy or Outback) took a wide, fast turn into a Kirkland parking lot and stuck John Sullivan who was riding his bike the morning of January 22. But that was just the beginning.

After dragging the man, the person driving stopped and backed up over Sullivan, then went forward and ran over him a third time —this time over his head — while fleeing the scene. The person driving made no attempt to render aid or call for help.

Sullivan was seriously injured with crushed bones and a lot of pain, but incredibly he escaped without more critical injuries like serious head trauma. He is in a lot of pain and has a long recovery ahead of him. Though the person responsible can’t undo his injuries, Sullivan and his wife told KOMO News they want the person who fled to come forward, apologize and take responsibility.

From KOMO:

“I can’t think of any other reason why a good human being wouldn’t stop and own up to this,” Sullivan said. “The most terrifying thing you can imagine,” Sullivan’s wife, Kara, said. “Accidents happen and you stop and you help. I mean at least that way we could forgive the person.” Kirkland police believe the driver was behind the wheel of a 1995-2000 model of a Subaru Outback wagon with Washington license plate beginning with the letter “A.” Sullivan believes the first 3 letters were “AWL.” “Come apologize to me. Show your face. Don’t do this to anybody else,” Sullivan said. “It’s a terrible thing to do to somebody. Own up to it. Stop hiding.”

Kirkland Police are “optimistic” that they have good leads and will find the person responsible. If you have any information that can help, call the department’s crime tip line: (425) 587-3515.

But it shouldn’t take police work. The person who did this needs to take responsibility. It’s much easier to forgive someone who finally makes the right call than it is to forgive someone who runs away until they are caught.