Young Oak Harbor bicyclist hit by car still critical at Harborview

A 14-year-old boy who was struck by a car while he was riding a bicycle in Oak Harbor last Tuesday remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.

Oak Harbor Police Chief Rick Wallace said the accident occurred at about 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 3 at the intersection of SE Eighth Avenue and Ireland Street.

According to the police, Tristen Willis was biking northward on Ireland Street, went through the stop sign at the intersection of SE Eighth Avenue and was struck by a 2002 GMC pickup driven by 53-year-old Bruce Roberts of Oak Harbor.

Witnesses reported that Willis, who wasn't wearing a helmet, struck his head on the road.

"Officers knew he had a pretty serious injury because of his behavior and he was bleeding from the ear," Wallace said. "He was a little combative, which can be a sign of brain injury."

Willis was transported to Whidbey General Hospital and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. He remained in critical condition Monday afternoon.

According to Wallace, Willis' family just moved to Oak Harbor a couple of weeks before the accident.

The case is still under investigation, but Wallace said it appears that Willis went through the intersection without stopping at the stop sign and that Roberts didn't have enough time to stop. Wallace said Roberts was apparently driving within the 25 mph speed limit.

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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