Background: Cody Churchwell appears at a court hearing (KPTV). Inset: Quinn Broyles, 13, who was allegedly struck and killed by Churchwell while riding an e‑bike in Canby, Oregon (Canby police).
An Oregon plumber faces accusations of striking a teenage girl riding an e‑bike with his van and fleeing the scene, asserting that he felt a bump and did not believe he had made contact.
Cody Churchwell, 31, faces charges of second‑degree manslaughter, failure to perform the duties of a driver, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment for the death of 13‑year‑old Quinn Broyles.
The Canby Police Department reported that Quinn rode an e‑bike in the bicycle lane on the 300 block of S. Ivy Street at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Thursday when a van struck her; the driver then fled the scene.
Quinn was airlifted to a children’s hospital, where she later died.
Police released surveillance footage of the van and quickly identified it as belonging to a local plumbing company, according to local Fox affiliate KPTV. Officers recovered the van several hours later at Churchwell’s residence in Canby, about 20 miles south of Portland.
According to KPTV, prosecutors stated at a bond hearing that the van sustained damage, including a leaking radiator. Churchwell told officers that, while driving, he “noticed a bump, but didn’t think he had hit anything.” He added that he did not begin drinking until he arrived home.
Quinn’s family issued a statement through the police department, noting that she served as captain of her basketball team and loved to dance.
“In her short time here on earth, Quinn made an extraordinary impact on several communities, and countless lives,” the family said. “She wasn’t just a daughter, sister, friend, a teammate, a captain, a dancer. She was an inspirational young leader, whose love, determination, and character left a lasting impression on the youth in our communities.”
Churchwell remains incarcerated in the Clackamas County Jail without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
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