MEDIA RELEASE:
UPDATED INFORMATION; Deputies conclude investigation into the October 7th fatal pedestrian collision.
It was determined that the operator of the 2003 Toyota 4 Runner, which struck Clifford Staley, was not at fault for the collision. The operator of the Toyota was identified as Scott Alan Ricker, 43, of Hagerstown.
Ricker was not responsible for the collision, however, through the course the investigation it was determined that Ricker failed to remain at the scene of the collision, failed to render aid and obstructed the investigation. Video surveillance footage from business around the scene of the incident shows Ricker pulling onto the Shop-N-Save access road, beside Spicher’s Appliance and Electronics, after the collision.
Ricker and his passenger are seen exiting the vehicle and walking towards Pennsylvania Avenue. Approximately 5 minutes later Ricker returned to the vehicle. The vehicle then drives into the parking lot of the Shop-N-Save.
Deputies reviewed the video surveillance from the Shop-N-Save, it shows Ricker entering the store, going directly to check out and making a purchase. After making the purchase, Ricker exits the store, goes to his vehicle and drives back to the scene of the collision, at which point he finally contacts a Deputy.
During his contact with the Deputy at the scene, Ricker gave information that was later determined to be false.
After concluding the investigation, the case was presented to the Washington County States Attorney’s Office for review. The States Attorney’s Office has charged Ricker with Felony Failing to Remain at the Scene (2 counts), Failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving death (2counts), Failing to render aid, and Obstructing and Hindering.
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ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:
On October 7, 2017 at approximately 8:23 PM, Deputies responded to a residence in the 13400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue for a suspicious person. The caller advised 9-1-1 that an unknown male was knocking on his door and walking around the front of his residence. The caller said the male had a thin build and was wearing a red shirt.
When Deputies arrived on scene they observed a male, matching the description given by the caller, walking from the caller’s residence, with two dogs following close behind him.
Deputies identified the male as Clifford Lee Staley, 49, of no fixed address. Staley admitted to being at the caller’s house but stated he committed no crimes. After speaking with Staley, Deputies concluded that no crimes had been committed. Staley was told he was free to leave and not to return to the private property of the caller.
At 8:46 PM, Staley began to leave the area, walking south on the wide southbound shoulder of Pennsylvania Ave in front of Burkholder’s Flooring, 13412 Pennsylvania Avenue, while talking to the two dogs to keep them in tow.
Staley and the dogs had walked approximately 60 feet from the location of the Deputies when one of the dogs began to walk south in the travel portion of the southbound lane of Pennsylvania Ave. Deputies observed a minivan driving southbound Pennsylvania Avenue strike the dog. The dog was thrown across the median and came to rest on the median line touching the northbound lane. Staley immediately ran into the roadway to tend to the dog.
One of the Deputies went to assist the dog, while the other contacted the driver of the minivan. The Deputy assisting the dog order Staley to stay out of the roadway several times, for his safety, as the Deputy obtained supplies to help the dog. Staley ignored the Deputies orders, and crouched down by the dog, in the northbound travel lane. Staley was then struck by a vehicle traveling in the northbound lane.
Staley was transported to Meritus Medical Center, where he later died as a result of his injuries.