Video shows moment man was knocked off of scooter; deputies search for hit-and-run driver

TACOMA, Wash. — The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is looking for the driver in a hit and run crash that seriously injured a man riding a Vespa scooter.

The crash happened at the intersection of Portland Avenue East and 80th Street East three weeks ago, Thursday.

Newly obtained surveillance video shows a white Mazda MPV van waiting at a stop sign at the intersection on June 27. The van has a stop sign and Anderson does not. The car moves forward, forcing the scooter to swerve.

"If I didn't do anything, I was going to crash," Anderson said.

The van still bumped him, according to police.

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It was enough to lose control. Anderson's scooter hit another car with such force it was sent flying back hundreds of feet. He's been recovering at St. Joseph's Hospital ever since.

"I had no idea that I had such an extensive tissue injury and I would be here for three weeks," Anderson said.

Anderson's wife, Karen Carston, blames the driver of the white van.

"They just drove away, and that's what's so terrible," Carston said.

All the driver did was bump into Lars, but Pierce County detectives say, that's what really caused this crash. Had it not been for the protective motorcycle gear Anderson was wearing, he doesn't know if he would be alive.

Witnesses described the vehicle as a dirty white Mazda MPV with tinted windows.

Surveillance video shows people hovering over Anderson after the crash, caring for him until first responders arrived. However, no one got a good luck at the van's license plate. Detectives say they are still looking for the van and the driver.

The road to recovery will be long for Lars, who has severe damage to his right leg.

His family set up a fundraising site to help pay for medical expenses.

Cox Media Group