OCEAN PARK – The search continues for clues into the events surrounding the tragic death of David Carter, 19, of Ocean Park in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Carter died after being run over by two vehicles while mysteriously lying in the northbound lane of SR 103 just north of Cranberry Road at approximately 1:30 a.m. He was on his way home to Ocean Park after getting off work at 12:20 a.m. at the Shoalwater Restaurant in Seaview.

It is approximately five miles from the restaurant to where David was run over. According to David’s brother Nick Carter, who worked that night with David, he believed that David was intending to hitch-hike home to Ocean Park the night he was killed.

There has been some speculation as to whether David was alive or dead when he was run over by the first vehicle, but Pacific County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Clark, who is investigating the case, has concluded that he was alive.

“I have no doubt that he was alive prior to the first vehicle hitting him,” said Clark. “I am basing this on eye-witness accounts.”

Clark said he is also leaning toward the conclusion that David received a ride to the point where he was run over, based on the distance from the Shoalwater Restaurant in Seaview to where he was hit just north of Cranberry Road.

“I’m saying this based on the time and distance,” said Clark. “From where to where and by whom is the big question.”

David’s mother Maria Garibay Carter has also said she thought it was unlikely that David made it that far on foot, citing that when he walked, “he just loped along.” Maria has vowed to keep pressing for answers to find out how her teenage son ended up lying in the road that night, where he was run over and killed.

At this time, Clark said he is focusing on the time line from when David left work and when the first call came in that he was hit, which was at 1:31 a.m. Based on this information, he is trying to account for as much of the approximately 70 minutes from when David left work until he got to Cranberry Road.

According to Clark, after last week’s article in the Chinook Observer, his office received only two calls with additional information. Clark urges anyone with any information to contact him at the Sheriff’s Office. He is also waiting the drug/alcohol toxicology results from the autopsy, which are expected in the next three weeks.

According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Glen Tyrrell, the State Patrol is continuing its own investigation into the events of Aug. 20., and is focusing on the collision. State Patrol Detective John Huntington is heading the investigation.

“I just talked to John Huntington and he indicated that he doesn’t have any recent leads,” said Tyrrell on Tuesday afternoon. “Other than that there is nothing new and we are continuing the investigation. We are also urging anyone with information to come forward.”

According to Tyrrell, the State Patrol is also awaiting the toxicology results from the autopsy report, but he said investigators don’t have their hopes up that they will provide any new clues into the mysterious case.

“We’re still putting the scene together and all the information that we have gathered so far,” said Tyrrell. “The case is progressing, but we need more information. Somebody in the community knows something that we need, and that’s not coming out. We need somebody to come forward. If they want to remain anonymous, we can respect that.”

Tyrrell said that the month of August has been a busy month and that the State Patrol is focusing as much of its energy on the David Carter case as possible.

“It’s an important case,” he said.

To report information about the events of Aug. 20 relating to David Carter, contact Detective John Huntington at the Washington State Patrol in Bremerton at (360) 405-6643 or Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Clark at the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office at 642-9403.