13-year-old dies after hit-and-run in Canby; suspect driver arrested

CANBY, Ore. (KPTV) - A 13-year-old girl riding an electric scooter has died after a hit-and-run Wednesday night in Canby, and police have arrested the driver accused of fleeing the scene.

On Sept. 23, at about 7:20 p.m., a 13-year-old girl was riding an electric scooter when she was hit by a driver in the 300 block of South Ivy Street. The girl, whose name has not been released, was taken to Randall Children’s Hospital where she later died.

The suspect driver, who police say was driving a white cargo/sprinter-style van, fled the scene after the crash.

Police said the suspect, 31-year-old Cody Churchwell, and the van were located hours later. Churchwell was booked into the Clackamas County Jail for second-degree manslaughter, failure to perform the duties of the driver, reckless driving, and reckless endangering.

Churchwell pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.

“It always hits hard when it’s an innocent young person of course,” Canby Police Capt. James Murphy said.

Canby PD asked for the public’s help to identify a couple of fuzzy photos of the van. Many Facebook users immediately recognized its distinctive colors, tying it to Vancouver-based Pacific Plumbing and Drain.

Murphy said they later found the van at an unincorporated address in Canby.

“There was evidence collected, there was an interview conducted, and the suspect was taken into custody,” he said.

In court, the state said Churchwell was at home after being contacted by police.

“He had been drinking and claimed not have been drinking until he arrived home,” the prosecutor said, “and claimed he noticed a bump, but didn’t think he had hit anything.”

The prosecutor said the van was so damaged the radiator was leaking.

Murphy said this is the first death involving an e-scooter or e-bike this year in Canby. There have been two other crashes were someone got injured.

“Our hopes and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family and our community members that will be affected by it for some time to come.” Murphy said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the case should contact the Canby Police Department and reference case number 26-018884.