Renton man dies from injuries suffered in hit-and-run accident

A Renton man who was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident last week died Wednesday evening at Harborview Medical Center.

Renton police are asking for help from anyone who knows of a light-colored sport-utility vehicle with recent damage to the passenger side or who might have witnessed the June 26 accident that occurred about 11 p.m. on Talbot Road South near South 45th Place.

Police and family members said the driver of the SUV left the scene after turning abruptly in front of a Harley-Davidson ridden by 40-year-old Daren Dougan, of Renton. Police said Dougan was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

Dougan's family members said he was taken off life support when physicians determined he was brain-dead. All of his organs, except his liver, which was catastrophically damaged in the accident, were harvested for donation, according to Dougan's stepmother, Guen Cornutt, of Salem, Ore.

Dougan was a music lover who sang, played guitar and the harmonica and "had a wit you wouldn't believe," Cornutt said. He was a devoted brother of three, an uncle of four and a steady worker, managing a Renton-area furniture store for more than 15 years.

"He was the nicest guy," she said. "He would literally give you the shirt off his back."

"We're just hoping that if people know what a wonderful man he was, they'll take a little more time to look harder at the cars around them" in the search for the hit-and-run driver, Cornutt said.

Anyone with information on the accident is asked to call the Renton Police Department, 425-430-7500.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com