Duck's rescuer hit by car driven by shoplifting suspect

A Lynnwood pet-store employee running to save a customer's duck from harm was struck by a car driven by a Seattle shoplifting suspect this morning, police said.

The 43-year-old Petco employee was in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was being treated for a crushed ankle, said Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions.

The duck wasn't hurt.

A Seattle woman who owned the duck had parked at a commercial complex at 196th Street Southwest and Alderwood Mall Parkway. She carried the duck into Petco, leaving her male passenger in the car, Sessions said.

While the woman shopped, the passenger allegedly walked into a nearby Linens 'n Things store and shoplifted a $200 iPod accessory, she said. When chased by a security officer, he fled to the car, jumped into the driver's seat and began to back up.

His open car door then knocked down his friend, who had noticed him leaving and was trying to stop him, Sessions said.

When the woman fell and dropped the duck, the Petco worker ran out to save it, she said. The would-be rescuer was struck when the man accelerated forward, crushing her ankle between the car and a curb, she said.

The man, 35, then pulled out of the parking lot onto 164th Street, where he immediately rear-ended another car, Sessions said.

Lynnwood police arrested him on suspicion of two counts of vehicular assault.

Diane Brooks: 425-745-7802 or dbrooks@seattletimes.com