Man killed in rollover crash ‘loved life and people’
June 9, 2009
By Staff
NEW — 9:35 a.m. June 9, 2009
A 27-year-old Issaquah man died late June 5 near the church where he was baptized when his sport-utility vehicle veered off the road and rolled several times in the 10100 block of Issaquah-Hobart Road.
Christopher M. Leslie died at the accident scene from head injuries, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Witnesses who called police after the accident told officers they saw the vehicle moving at high speed and then crash. Officers arrived at the scene at about 11:25 p.m. There were no passengers in the vehicle, a maroon 1999 Subaru Forester.
Christopher Leslie holds his niece Ava the day she was born.
Flowers adorned a makeshift memorial at the scene, on the east shoulder of Issaquah-Hobart Road, in the days following the accident. Rutted vehicle tracks were visible in the grass nearby. The accident occurred within sight of Foothills Baptist Church, where Leslie was baptized twice.
“He was that guy that everyone liked,” his girlfriend, Shanna Massey, said June 8. “He was very charismatic and good hearted.”
Leslie worked at a moving and storage company with his dad, his sister Diane Orriolo said.
“He’s worked there since he was about 4, since he was big enough to carry anything,” she said.
Leslie lived in Issaquah for most of his life. He attended Maple Hills Elementary, Maywood Middle and Liberty High schools. His last academic year at Liberty was 1996-97, but he graduated in California in 2000.
“He loved fishing, camping and being an uncle to my kids, Ava, 2, and Jefry, 2 months,” Orriolo said.
Police said alcohol and speed appeared to be factors in the accident. The posted speed limit along that stretch of Issaquah-Hobart Road is 35 mph. Obtaining toxicology results – including blood-alcohol content – will take several weeks.
“There was evidence of alcohol consumption in the car,” Issaquah Police Cmdr. Stan Conrad said.
He said Leslie was not wearing his seat belt.
Massey and Orriolo said they thought others prematurely formed a conclusion about the cause of the crash.
“It’s nobody’s business, and it’s alleged right now,” Orriolo said. “We won’t have toxicology results back for eight to 10 weeks.”
Massey recalled her boyfriend as a careful driver.
“Something drastic had to have happened for him to run off the road,” she said. “I’ve driven with him a lot. He used to coach me about driving, driving on ice, what to do when you see a deer.”
The women also objected to how Leslie was portrayed in several Web posts.
“I think the media is always sensationalizing things,” Massey said. “It hasn’t been fair to the family and friends to say he deserved it. It’s inappropriate and offensive. I think people should keep those things to themselves.”
Issaquah Police are working with the Washington State Patrol to further investigate the crash.
“He died right in front of our church,” Orriolo said. “Everyone has a destiny. You can’t fight death.”
Leslie’s family members said they want people to know who he was, not just how he died.
“We want them to know how much he truly loved life and people,” Orriolo said.
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Chris was a great guy who really did have a genuine love for life, he could light up a room with his personality. This is a tragic loss.
Chris, You’ll be more than missed. You were one of my idols as I grew up, and if I could give you my life I would be more than willing. This article gave me chills. Death comes at a ridiculous pace; one in which there is no accurate measurement. It happens to the most undeserving people at the more irrational times.
You’re in a better place, Christopher. And you – the young man who changed my life in more ways than one – will forever have a corner of my heart, and will be thought of fondly, every single day.
God bless you, and rest in peace.
To the family and friends of Chris, I’m so sorry that others have been so insensative to you as you grieve your very deep loss, please know that every time I drive by I pray for you all as you are learning to live without Chris…your brother, uncle, son and good friend. I pray that God will comfort you in a very personal way, again I’m so sorry for your loss!!
(I didn’t know Chris but I can only imagine what it would be like to lose my son’s that are near the same age.)
never a saint now my angel i miss you i love you not in life but now in death i walk with you. You i fought i grew i knew i lost now i hurt. WHY
i miss you
Christopher —- our beautiful golden boy. We loved you so much in life,
We wanted so much for you… We miss you horribly.
We loved you as a baby, as a toddler, and as a teenager, and as an adult.
Never will you be forgotten, you are in our hearts and souls always
Your Grandma, and Grandpa….. the peeps
bro i will always love you and i will never forget the tymes we had bro u r forever in my heart and in my daughters heart i so wish u could of stayed just a lil while longer to see madison bro. i hate to say this but i should of been there withu and u no it. god may bless your soul and may u look over me and our family chris i fkn love u bro. i miss u soooooo much tears couldnt ateastt to what i feel. u were my brother friend w/e u r missed christopher i love you forever and may god rest ya soul. oh yeah p.s. pimps up hoes down chris nose what i mean. love ya fcker ithanks for tha tooth ahole. my brother!
i hope that you are still arrogantly making your way after your comments about my nephew in june of 2009…if we could all be as perfect as you…you have long forgotten your thoughtless comments, but yet my family still grieves
christopher i still cannot believe you are gone…your aunt will always keep you alive in her heart…if you could just see jefry (YOUR MINNIE ME) so much has happened i wish you were here love you so much