Public helps police identify hit-and-run driver

MOSES LAKE — The public helped police identify a man who is alleged to have struck a man who was riding his horse and fled the scene. The horse died in the crash and the man was seriously injured.

The crash occurred about 7 p.m. Friday on North Frontage Road in Moses Lake. The man and his horse were struck from behind by a vehicle alleged to have been driven by Cooper Wilson, 22, of Moses Lake.

The horse was killed in the crash and the man was seriously injured. Cooper reportedly fled the scene and crashed through a fence before getting onto westbound Interstate 90. He then crashed through the fence again and veered back onto North Frontage Road. A passerby found the victim and contacted authorities.

The Moses Lake Police Department put out a PSA on Facebook for information on the driver of the vehicle a few hours after the incident. Cooper was located after the MLPD received a number of phone call from people who wanted to provide information.

“Thanks to everyone who called. Within 15 minutes of the post going up on our Facebook page last night (Friday), Wilson was identified as the driver. By noon today (Saturday), he was in custody and the vehicle was recovered,” stated the MLPD.

“This is the way it is supposed to work, the community and your police department working together for the common good.”

Cooper was booked into the Grant County Jail on charges of felony hit-and-run, failure to summon assistance, second-degree driving with a suspended license and second-degree malicious mischief.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at rbyrd@columbiabasinherald.com.