Victim/Witnesses Say Driver Slowed/Stopped at Crosswalk before Accelerating, Hitting the Victim before Fleeing the Scene
Spokane Valley Deputies arrested the suspect in the felony assault of a pedestrian who was at/in a crosswalk. The victim and witnesses stated the driver of the truck slowed/stopped at the crosswalk, but when the victim was in front of the Ford, the driver revved the engine, accelerated, and then hit the victim. The driver fled the scene but called 911 (approximately 20 minutes later), saying the victim had something in his hand, which he believed was a gun, so he fled. As he drove away, the suspect realized the victim was holding a caulk gun because it was on his hood, near the windshield. After being interviewed, he was arrested and booked into jail. The victim had no life-threatening injuries and was transported by a private vehicle to the hospital for further evaluation.
On September 18, 2023, just after 7:00 pm, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a vehicle/pedestrian hit collision on E. Mission Avenue, near N. Bowman Road. The silver Ford truck fled east from the scene after hitting the adult male victim and did not stop.
Deputies arrived, and Spokane Valley Fire provided medical treatment and evaluated him for injuries. He was transported to the hospital by private vehicle for additional treatment/evaluation per his decision.
The victim said he first observed the truck traveling west on Mission Ave. at approximately 70 mph. He heard the Ford turn around and planned to confront the driver to ask him to slow down. The truck slowed, sped up, and then stopped just before the crosswalk he was standing at. When he entered the crosswalk in front of the Ford, the driver, later identified as 20-year-old Jack R. Envolsen, “just gunned it” and hit him. The victim fell to the ground, hitting his head, hand, and elbow as the truck sped away.
Witnesses also stated that Envolsen slowed/stopped before the crosswalk. However, once the victim was in front of the Ford, Envolsen revved the engine, accelerated, struck the victim, and fled the area.
Just before 7:25 pm, Envolsen called to report he was the driver of the Ford involved in the collision and provided his location. When a Deputy arrived, Envolsen said he was initially driving west on Mission from Park because he had been working on his Ford due to a mechanical issue. While returning, he approached a crosswalk in front of the elementary school and observed the victim standing at/in the crosswalk.
Envolsen said he came to a stop, and the victim just stood there. The victim then turned toward Envolsen’s vehicle and moved toward him with a caulk gun in his hand. Envolsen said he didn’t realize the object in the victim’s hand was a caulk gun until later because it was dark. Thinking the victim was holding a firearm, Envolsen tried to go around the victim to “get out of there”. As he drove away, he observed the victim on the side of the road, appearing to be getting up. Envolsen said he was not sure if he hit the victim or not. While driving away, he realized it was a caulk gun, not a firearm the victim was holding, so he wanted to get his truck to his home before calling 911. He didn’t call to report this incident until approximately 20 minutes after the collision and after he called a family member and his girlfriend. Initially, Envolsen removed the caulk gun from his hood but put it back after he called law enforcement.
Deputies noted Envolsen showed no signs of impairment, and he denied using any alcohol/narcotics during the evening.
Through the investigation, Deputies developed probable cause to arrest Envolsen for two felony charges.
Envolsen was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Assault 2nd Degree and Hit and Run-Injury.
