An Oregon emergency doctor has been sentenced to prison after prosecutors said he struck a pedestrian with his vehicle, drove around the injured man, and fled the scene without helping him. The victim later died during surgery, leaving behind a grieving family.
Oregon Doctor Sentenced in Fatal Hit-and-Run
Kenneth Kolarsky, 59, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison and 36 months of post-prison supervision following the deadly hit-and-run crash in Woodburn, Oregon.
Kolarsky pleaded guilty to attempted failure to perform duties of a driver to an injured person, according to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
| Case Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Kenneth Kolarsky |
| Victim | Nicolas Hernandez-Mendoza |
| Location | Woodburn, Oregon |
| Incident Date | Dec. 26, 2024 |
| Sentence | 13 months prison |
| Charge | Hit-and-run related offense |
Victim Hit While Crossing Street
Prosecutors said Nicolas Hernandez-Mendoza was crossing the street with a crosswalk safety light activated when he was hit by Kolarsky’s vehicle.
Authorities stated that after the collision, Kolarsky stopped briefly but then drove around the victim’s unconscious body and left the scene.
Investigators confirmed Hernandez-Mendoza was still alive when the driver fled.
Doctor Went to Work After Crash
According to prosecutors, Kolarsky drove to his workplace about 20 minutes after the crash.
Reports stated that he was working as a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Silverton Hospital at the time of the incident.
Authorities said he had been traveling from the Portland area to work when the crash happened.
Victim Died During Surgery
Doctors later discovered Hernandez-Mendoza suffered severe injuries, including:
- Fractures in the cervical vertebra
- Pelvic injuries
- Internal bleeding from the spleen
He died during surgery after medical teams were unable to stop the bleeding.
Victim’s Daughter Speaks Out
The victim’s daughter, Kimberly Hernandez, expressed heartbreak over the tragedy.
She said her father died just two days before he was supposed to meet her son for the first time.
The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help return Hernandez-Mendoza’s body to Mexico.
Investigators Used Surveillance Footage
Police identified Kolarsky after reviewing surveillance footage from near the crash scene.
The case later drew public attention because of Kolarsky’s profession as a doctor.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy criticized the defendant’s actions, saying leaving an injured person behind showed a disregard for human life, especially from someone sworn to help others.
Family Continues to Mourn Loss
The tragic case has sparked discussions about accountability in hit-and-run incidents and the responsibilities drivers have after serious crashes.
For the Hernandez family, the emotional loss remains devastating as they continue grieving a father and grandfather whose life ended just days before an important family moment.
