On Wednesday July 4, 2007, at approximately 8:16pm, a Mercer Island Police Officer was driving his patrol car when he was involved in a vehicle/pedestrian accident at the intersection of Island Crest Way and North Mercer Way on Mercer Island.

The pedestrian, a 68-year-old male resident, was struck while crossing in a crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered a broken leg and other injuries and was transported to Harborview Medical Center. The injuries are categorized as non-life threatening. As of Thursday morning, the patient was reported to be in satisfactory condition.

At the time of the accident, officer Chris DeChant was leaving westbound I-90 at the Island Crest Way exit. At the end of the ramp, he proceeded straight through the intersection onto North Mercer Way and hit the pedestrian who was in the crosswalk. Preliminary reports indicate the officer was proceeding through a green light and bright sunlight may have played a part in the officer not being able to see the pedestrian, according to Cmdr. Leslie Burns, the MIPD’s public information officer.

DeChant is a nine-year veteran of the Mercer Island Police Department. The Washington State Patrol is investigating the accident.

There is no further information available at this time.

For more information, contact Chief Ed Holmes at 236-3500.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Chris Tubbs, there were only two minor fires on the Island the night of the Fourth.

Firefighters responded to a small fire in a dumpster in the 7000 block of 44th Avenue S.E. and put it out before it spread. There was also a a small, smoldering fire that caused a smoke scare in the 7400 block of 85th Place S.E. It was immediately extinquished as well.