BOZEMAN, MT — A frightening hit-and-run incident in Bozeman has brought renewed attention to pedestrian safety in the city. On Tuesday afternoon, 19-year-old Ava Rask was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road at the roundabout on Baxter and Ferguson. The incident, which was captured on nearby security footage, has raised concerns about driver behavior and pedestrian safety in the area.
Rask, who was walking as part of her daily routine, described the moment she was hit. “I made sure when I got to the middle part and no one was coming, and I look up and I just see a car coming at me,” Rask recalled. The vehicle, identified as a green Subaru, briefly paused at the intersection before continuing through without stopping.
Surveillance footage from a nearby home shows the driver of the Subaru after the collision, who is seen briefly engaging with Rask. “He was like, ‘Are you okay, hun?’ And I said, ‘You’re lucky I’m okay!'” Rask recounted. “Then I backed off because cars were honking and people were yelling, and he drove off.”
Despite being shaken, Rask was unharmed in the incident. However, the driver’s failure to stop and render assistance has prompted frustration and concern. “Own up to your actions,” Rask said. “This would have been way less serious if he would have just stopped and helped me out.”
The incident adds to the ongoing conversation surrounding pedestrian safety in Bozeman, a topic that was brought to the forefront last September following the tragic death of 60-year-old Lynette Johnson. Johnson was killed when a vehicle left the roadway and struck her while she was walking her dog near South Third Avenue. The driver in that incident also fled the scene, further highlighting the issue of hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians in the city.
Bozeman Police Department reports that while hit-and-run incidents remain rare, they are concerning. In the past year, the department responded to 742 hit-and-run reports, 501 of which required further investigation. Six of those incidents involved pedestrians.
In response to Rask’s case, Bozeman Police emphasized the importance of drivers following traffic regulations and taking extra precautions when driving near pedestrians. “We strongly encourage all drivers to practice this level of caution and adhere to traffic regulations to ensure safety for everyone using the roadway,” said a department spokesperson.
The investigation into the incident involving Rask has been complicated by the lack of a visible license plate on the vehicle. Police are now focusing on gathering additional evidence through multiple channels. Officers are conducting interviews with witnesses and victims, reviewing surveillance footage, and collecting physical evidence, such as vehicle fragments, that may help identify the make and model of the car involved. Despite the challenges, law enforcement remains committed to pursuing all leads.
For Rask, the incident has been both a frightening reminder of the dangers pedestrians face and a call for accountability. “It’s just frustrating that no one else stopped to help,” she said. “But I’m hopeful the investigation will lead to answers.”
The case has sparked a renewed conversation about pedestrian safety in Bozeman, and many are questioning whether more needs to be done to prevent such incidents. As concerns grow over the safety of pedestrians in the city, the hope is that stronger awareness and more proactive measures will emerge to protect those on foot.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Bozeman Police Department.
