POULSBO, Wash. — The family of a man found dead on a state Route 3 off-ramp in Poulsbo is asking for help in solving his death.
Kathryn Rathvon said her son, Rob Rathvon, had just wrapped up his workweek as an air ambulance pilot and arrived in Port Angeles the morning of Friday, Dec. 8. According to Kathryn, her son would usually drive home to Camano Island, but chose to stay in Poulsbo for a night.
“But he said he was too tired," Kathryn said. "He said, I might just stop and relax and have dinner and then finish up the trip on Saturday."
Rob Rathvon got a room at the Poulsbo Inn & Suites with plans to go to a restaurant that was about 10 minutes away, according to his father, William Rathvon.
"I think he'd probably walked out, to start enjoying just that walk. But somehow, he ended up two miles away and on the edge of the road,” William said.
On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 9, state troopers were called for reports of a pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run on the off-ramp to Finn Hill.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the hit-and-run occurred sometime between Friday night and early Saturday morning.
WSP detectives are turning to the public for information.
Anyone with any information or witnesses who remember seeing a pedestrian walking along SR 3 before the fatal hit-and-run are urged to contact WSP Detective Krista Hedstrom at (360) 731-1108 or email Krista.Hedstrom@wsp.wa.gov.
Meanwhile, Rob Rathvon's family said their son was kind and always wanted to do his part.
"Helping people, saving lives," William Rathvon said.
Now his family is asking the public for help.
“We really need help understanding,” said Kathryn. “I can't put it to rest, you know? It's so difficult to understand."
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