Detectives for King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) are investigating the death of a longtime islander, Philip Cushman, as a fatality hit and run, and seeking the community’s help in gathering information.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, Cushman, who was 77 years old, was found deceased in the 17800 block of Thorsen Rd. SW, near his residence. He had been reported missing by a family member after he did not return from his usual early evening walk.

Cushman’s body was found by KCSO deputies, who had been joined by Vashon Island Fire & Rescue and some friends of the Cushman family in a search.

According to Zoe Birkbeck, a spokesperson for KCSO, it is believed that Cushman was hit by a vehicle between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. while he was out on his walk.

Karen Cushman, Philip’s wife, told The Beachcomber that she had been contacted by a friend of her husband’s at around 7:50 p.m., who told her that he had just been talking to Philip, as he was taking a walk. Philip’s phone had suddenly gone silent, the friend told Karen, causing him to be concerned for Philip’s safety.

The King County Medical Examiner’s office has determined that the cause of Philip’s accidental death was multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of his death as being that of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle.

Upon further investigation, on Tuesday, Aug. 23, by detectives assigned to King County’s major accident investigation team, tire imprints were found at the scene also indicating the likelihood that Philip had been struck and killed by a car. No vehicle parts were found at the scene, Birkbeck said.

As of Monday, Aug. 29, detectives still had no suspects for the crime, Birkbeck told The Beachcomber.

Detectives are partnering with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound in seeking the community’s help with information on what occurred or who may have been involved. Those with information should call anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS or give information online at P3Tips.com, referencing case #C22028022.

Cushman’s death was the second hit-and-run fatality to occur on Vashon in the past four months.

On April 4, a 74-year-old islander, Nathan Dorn, was hit and killed in a hit-and-run accident while walking on Vashon Highway to his home. Another islander, Michael Henderson, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide hit-and-run in connection with Dorn’s death on April 8 and is currently in jail awaiting trial.

Charging documents, in that case, cited evidence provided by Vashon community members who suspected Henderson of the crime

Philip Cushman, Ph.D., was a well-known, beloved and active member of the Vashon community. He and his wife, Karen Cushman, a Newberry Medal-winning author of children’s and young adult fiction, moved to Vashon in 2002.

He was a psychologist in private practice on Vashon, had taught at the University of Washington Tacoma, and was a retired core faculty member at Antioch University, Seattle.

He was also the noted author of “Constructing the Self, Constructing America: A Cultural History of Psychology (1995), “Travels With the Self: Interpreting Psychology as Cultural History” (2017)” and the editor of “Hermeneutic Approaches to Interpretive Research: Dissertations in a Different Key (2021).

Philip was active in the Vashon Havurah community, taking part in many Havurah programs and events, as well as other aspects of community life on Vashon.

“He was a helper and a lover, a great fan of the Mariners most of the time, and the kindest man anyone ever met,” said Karen Cushman. “I’d also like to say there has been an outpouring of love and support from the Vashon community since Monday. Phil was greatly loved, and the reflection from that is sustaining our daughter, Leah, and me through these dark days.”

A private burial ceremony was held on a Sunday, at Vashon Cemetery; a public service will be planned for a future date.