West Salem is reeling from a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of 53-year-old Steven Craig Bishop just days before Christmas. According to the Salem Police Department, Bishop’s body was discovered on December 23 after an apparent vehicle collision. The driver involved fled the scene, leaving Bishop without aid. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near Murlark Avenue NW and Edgewater Street NW. Emergency responders pronounced Bishop dead at the scene.
Investigators have identified a possible lead from surveillance footage. A white vehicle, believed to be a Jeep Grand Cherokee from the 2015 or 2016 model year, was captured heading east on Edgewater Street NW near Murlark Avenue NW shortly before the incident. This vehicle is now a focus of the investigation.
The Salem Police Department is urging anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver to come forward. They believe the footage, recorded just minutes before authorities were alerted, could be critical in bringing justice to Bishop’s grieving family. As the investigation continues, police are combing through evidence to identify the suspect responsible for this devastating loss.
