Molalla hit and run victim dies, police still searching for suspect

Thomas Mossman.
(Photo: Oregon State Police)

67-year old Thomas Mossman died yesterday morning at OHSU. Mossman is the victim of a March 22nd hit-and-run that happened on Highway 211 just west of Molalla (about 30 miles south of Portland) on March 22nd. Mossman was riding his bike on the shoulder of the highway when he was hit. The Oregon State Police (OSP) are still looking for the person who drove their vehicle into Mossman and fled the scene.

Yesterday, Mossman’s daughter issued a statement about the tragedy:

“My family and I have been devastated today because my father died from severe injuries caused by a hit & run driver. We are extremely grateful to the staff at OHSU for doing everything possible. We ask the public to please help the police find the person responsible for running him down with their vehicle and killing him.”

OSP is offering a $1,000 reward for tips and info leading to the suspect in the collision. Evidence at the scene leads them to believe the vehicle is a silver-gray, mid-90s Dodge Caravan (photo below) with front and side damage…

Tips may be phoned in to the Oregon State Police at 1 (800) 452-7888.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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GlowBoy
GlowBoy
12 years ago

I’ll be driving through that area later today. Will keep my eyes open.

Charley
Charley
12 years ago

A hit and run is such a vile and irresponsible act. I hope the criminal is racked by all-consuming guilt, since they’ll likely never face justice.

Nick V
Nick V
12 years ago

I read elsewhere that he was wearing a helmet and was only fifty yards away from his destination. Awful.
My condolences to his family and I hope that the police find the culprit.

Joe
Joe
12 years ago

hit and run is just sad, how can someone be so heartless?

Joe
Joe
12 years ago

R.I.P bike friend

gumby
gumby
12 years ago

That could have been any one of us. That’s what’s scary. You can do all the right things and still wind in the morgue.

Dave Thomson
Dave Thomson
12 years ago
Reply to  gumby

Yes, but the odds are hugely against it.

esther c
esther c
12 years ago

So sad.

What is so disgusting is there are plenty of people who know exactly who the killer is. They know who this van owner is and know he hasn’t driven it or are helping him cover it up.

Paul Hanrahan
Paul Hanrahan
12 years ago

Can’t the police do a search in the DMV database for this type of vehicle and color and focus in on the ones registered in the near vicinity & do a drive by to check them out?

skip
skip
12 years ago

Strength and condolences to his family and friends. It seems especially awful that, on top of it being the most heinous hit-and-run, Mr. Mossman’s condition was actually upgraded in the hospital before he died.

catnap
catnap
12 years ago

Pull all cell phone records within 1/4 mile of where it happened, and check out everyone’s car.

Oh wait, darn privacy laws.

MIddle of the Road Guy
MIddle of the Road Guy
12 years ago
Reply to  catnap

You know the person was on the phone?

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
12 years ago

The person didn’t need to be on the phone. As long as they are turned on, cellphones constantly triangulate and report their location back to the cellular provider, whether they are “in use” or not.

John Landolfe
12 years ago

My deepest condolences to the victim’s family. The OHSU Bike Program includes a lot of riders of Mr. Mossman’s age, background and rural riding habits.

Since OHSU is such a large and central institution, I thought it worth forwarding this vehicle alert to our parking enforcement who see thousands of cars everyday and some of whom also bike.

deborah
deborah
12 years ago

I would hope that with the smaller community out there in Molalla someone comes forward to point the police to the guilty party. Especially now that he has succumb to his injuries. My thoughts are with Thomas’s family and friends.

deborah
deborah
12 years ago
Steve
Steve
12 years ago

Major news, Deborah. Thanks for posting it.