PORT ANGELES — A blind pedestrian who police said was struck by a van in a downtown crosswalk Feb. 3 is suing the driver.
Kyle Parrish, 59, and his wife, Ella, both of Sequim, filed the lawsuit in Clallam County Superior Court against Marion Ashing, 79, of Sekiu.
They are seeking unspecified, general damages, including medical costs and expenses, veterinary bills and loss of earnings.
A report by investigating Port Angeles Police Officer Dallas Maynard gave the following account:
With guide dog
Kyle Parrish and his guide dog, Peter, were walking north in the crosswalk at North Oak and West First streets when they were struck by Ashing.
Ashing was turning left from North Oak Street going south and onto West First.
Parrish said his left hamstring was strained in the collision.
Peter, Parrish’s 5-year-old black Labrador retriever, went under the car and was treated for a leg injury.
“Ashing told me he did not see Parrish or the dog because of the sun in his eyes,” Maynard said in the report.
Port Angeles lawyer Deborah Nelson and Seattle lawyer Jeffrey Boyd of the Seattle firm Nelson Boyd filed the suit against Ashing on Aug. 7.
Not fully recovered
Parrish has not fully recovered from the collision, and his dog had several surgeries, which made it impossible for Parrish to get to work in Port Angeles, where he is director of the Vision Loss Center, Nelson said, adding that Parrish has since returned to work.
Bellevue lawyer Douglas Somers, representing Ashing, did not return a call for comment.