Family of hit-and-run victim still seeks justice
By Matt Vaughan, KOLO-TV
WASHOE VALLEY — One year after a hit and run near Stateline, the family of a former Washoe Valley man is still seeking justice.
A big man with an even bigger heart, that’s how family and friends remember Cody Dobson. His mom Daralyn says after her son’s death a lot of people came forward to tell her what a generous nature Cody had.
Always willing to lend a helping hand, Cody felt it was his duty to help those in need, whether it was offering kind words or just giving someone a big hug. Cody loved snowboarding, but the one thing he loved even more was spending time with his son Seth.
Unfortunately, Seth will have to grow up without his father. On Aug. 10, 2013, about eight months after moving to South Lake Tahoe, Cody was walking east along the sidewalk on Highway 50 near Lake Parkway just a few blocks from where he lived. Witnesses saw him lying in the road. It’s unclear how he got there, but it appears he may have stumbled from the sidewalk. Before anyone could get to him, Dobson was run over by a dark colored pickup truck which fled the scene. He was later rushed to the hospital with fractured ribs and a fractured skull, where he died almost two weeks later. Alcohol did appear to be a factor the night of the accident. Cody’s mom says he had received some troubling news that day and decided to go out drinking.
Cody’s family says Seth took the loss of his father hard, but they continue to honor his memory by laying flowers at the scene of the accident and reminding Seth of the kind of man his dad was.
NHP is still asking for help in tracking down the driver that hit Cody. The truck is described as a dark colored Dodge pickup, possibly green or blue with an extended cab, matching camper shell and grey molding. Anyone with information or who may have seen something that night is asked to call NHP or secret witness.
A tremendously sad situation, and no question that knowingly leaving a scene is a crime. But leaving a scene in no way presumes that the person skipping out was actually responsible for the loss.
What makes it so sad is that the family seems to be looking for someone to blame. Not pretending to be any sort of a counselor, but working one’s way through a loss is not enhanced by looking elsewhere for someone to blame.
If there’s someone to be angry with, it should be KOLO for turning a family’s struggle with grief into some sort of story of “justice not served.”
Copper +1 well said.