Julian Hamilton, 25, pleaded guilty to hitting and killing Michael Colmant in April 2021 and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Hamilton was driving under the influence after drinking in the park when he crossed to the wrong side of Seward Park Ave S just east of the intersection with Wilson Ave S and collided head-on with Colmant, who was biking downhill toward the park. Hamilton then fled the scene and tried to hide the damaged vehicle in Tacoma. He did not turn himself in. He was arrested a year and a half later thanks to a tip that came in after the King County Council offered a $50,000 reward for information in the case. Colmant was a King County employee who worked at Boeing Field.
Q13 News has a report that includes Hamilton’s tearful apology in the court room as well as statements from Colmant’s loved ones.
“I’m sorry for my actions that day and the delay in justice,” he said, reading a prepared statement. “I’m sorry I didn’t come forward sooner. I was afraid of the consequences. But I know this is the right thing to do.”
“There is no sentence that will give him the justice he deserves, and no sentence handed down will bring him back,” said a statement from Colmant’s step-daughter read in court.
His sentence was on toward the high end for these crimes, the Seattle Times reported.
Our society has few incentives to stop the people responsible from fleeing the scene. As a result, hit and run collisions are disturbingly common. I don’t know of a clear change in policy that would prevent people from fleeing the scene after they hit someone with their car. Our justice system deals in prison terms, so it gives the few people who get caught longer sentences in hopes that this will deter others from fleeing. But this strategy is not working. How many people are out there living with constant anxiety because they know they killed someone and never got caught? Not only is that a miserable way to go through life, but for every one of them there is a community of people who lost a loved one and never received the answers and the closure they deserve.
RIP Mike Colmant. Our condolences to his loved ones.
Comments
7 responses to “Man who killed Michael Colmant sentenced to 20 months in prison for vehicular homicide and hit-and-run”
Thanks for keeping eyes on this story, Tom. Any news on charges in the Michael Weilert killing?
Twenty months? I’d be interested to know how that qualifies as “toward the high end for these crimes.” The man who killed Andres Hulslander in similar circumstances (except he did not flee the scene) was sentenced to six and a half years.
Twenty months? How on earth can you kill someone,flee the scene, not turn yourself in and go on living your life for a year and a half and only receive 1year & 8months🤬 This is disturbing!!! My condolences to the family and friends of Mr.Colmant justice was not served for you 😢
So Julian Hamilton will serve at most 20 months. When he gets out, will he ever be allowed to drive again? That’s what I want to know.
“His sentence was on toward the high end for these crimes, the Seattle Times reported.”
Vehicular Homicide = Legal Murder
The only way you can kill someone and not be held responsible.
His 20 months is punishment for running away, not for killing another human being.
Insane that anybody looking to kill somebody intentionally would use any weapon other than their car. It’s the ultimate crime hack IMO.
If they’d been drunkenly shooting a rifle for target practice no doubt they’d be in jail for life with additional gun charges, but if it’s a 3-ton steel box everything is fine.
Appalled at light sentencing? Keep voting Democrat, drone sheep.