Young man killed by a hit-and-run driver
On the morning of April 9, 2005, the body of 21-year-old Anthony 'Tony' White Jr. was discovered on the side of Old Highway 30 in the rural community of Svensen, east of Astoria, Oregon. A passing motorist found him at approximately 1:12 a.m. and alerted the authorities. Investigators determined that White had been walking home from a friend's house when he was struck and killed by a vehicle that then fled the scene.
The Clatsop County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the fatal hit-and-run. Evidence from the scene and an autopsy suggested that the vehicle involved was likely a passenger car or a small truck, which may have sustained damage to its front or side. A witness reported seeing a dark-colored, small pickup truck with a roll bar and a toolbox in the bed in the area around the time of the incident, and detectives sought to locate this vehicle and its driver for questioning. Despite their efforts and an ongoing investigation, no arrests have ever been made in connection with White's death, and the case remains an unsolved cold case.
In the years following his death, White's family has continued to seek answers and justice. They offered a reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the hit-and-run. White, a resident of nearby Knappa and a 2001 graduate of Knappa High School, was a member of the Oregon National Guard and was engaged to be married. At the time of his death, he was preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. His father remembered him as a 'good kid' who had recently turned his life around. A small memorial now stands on the side of Old Highway 30, a quiet reminder of the young life that was cut short.
