RENTON, Wash. — “Esco the hero. That’s my buddy.”
A Renton man is recovering at Harborview Medical Center after police say he was hit by a car. His family says he’s likely still alive thanks to his dog, Esco.
KIRO 7 first shared Richard Sanchez’s story on Tuesday. He was walking Esco Friday night. Police say around 9 p.m. a car hopped the curb on Tablot Road near South 51st Court, hitting them.
On Wednesday, KIRO 7 caught up with the family, speaking to Richard and his wife, Lori about what happened to him.
She says after the crash, Esco ran home, alerting her that something was wrong.
“I was like, ‘Why is Esco here?’ And I went to the door,” Lori told KIRO 7. “That’s when I saw the officer and I said, ‘what’s going on?’”
Officers say the driver didn’t stop.
The car was last seen getting onto SR 167 at South 43rd Street, heading north.
“There is no way that the person driving that vehicle did not know that they hit that person,” said Meeghan Black with the Renton Police Department.
Richard is in serious condition with several broken bones.
He’s gone through three surgeries since the crash.
“I got two jacked knees, fractured spine, stitches in the front, stitches in the back,” he told KIRO 7. “It’s not right what that person did.”
He says he is in a lot of pain, and hoping someone will help find the driver who did this.
“Please turn that person in, or turn yourself in,” he told KIRO 7.
Richard says this isn’t the only misfortune his family is coping with.
“I just lost my son not too long ago. This could have been another tragic situation my wife went through.”
Fortunately for Richard, his dog was not going to let that happen.
“My dog Esco, smart dog, he knew the way home, and alerted the family,” Richard told KIRO.
“I’m going to get him a little cape and a little chain,” Lori said, praising Esco.
Police believe the car that hit Richard is a Kia or Hyundai with bright headlights — and say it likely has damage to the front grill and windshield.
If you witnessed what happened, or have information that might help find the driver, you’re asked to call Renton police.
The family has started a GoFundMe page if you would like to help.
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