A Marion County Court judge sentenced a Portland man to 13 months in jail and three years of post-release supervision.
Dr. Kenneth Kolarsky, 59, pleaded guilty to attempting to fail to discharge his obligations as a driver to an injured person.
“On the evening of December 26, 2024, Nicolas Hernandez-Mendoza was struck by a vehicle as he crossed North Pacific Highway near Williams Avenue in Woodburn, Oregon,” the Marion County District Attorney’s Office reported. “Hernandez-Mendoza had activated the crosswalk safety lights as he began crossing the street and was hit by a vehicle operated by the defendant, Kolarsky.”
According to officials, Kolarsky stopped his vehicle after hitting the victim, drove around the body, and then left the area.
Hernandez-Mendoza was rushed to the hospital and died during emergency surgery.
“Woodburn Police Detectives requested and reviewed footage from dozens of nearby businesses and residences to establish the license plate number, make, and model of the defendant’s vehicle,” the MCDA stated. “After further investigation and review of surveillance video, Kolarsky, who was an emergency room physician, can be seen entering his place of employment approximately 20 minutes after striking the decedent.”
Officials believe Kolarsky was on his way to work at Silverton Hospital on the night of the tragedy.
“Regardless of why the accident happened, leaving the scene after hitting someone with your car is a callous disregard for human life,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy. “That’s intolerable and especially offensive when it is committed by a professional who takes an oath to ‘do no harm.'”
Judge Geyer stated in his finding that the Kolarskys left “a community member fallen and in the dark” with an “absence of dignity.”
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