Beloved schoolgirl, 13, is hit and killed by van driver who said he thought he just collided with a ‘bump in the road’

DAILYMAIL.COM • 2d ago

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER 16:36 04 Oct 2026, updated 16:42 04 Oct 2026

A van driver accused of fleeing after fatally striking a teenage girl allegedly told Oregon police he kept driving because he only thought he had just hit a ‘bump’ in the road.

Cody Churchwell, 31, was arrested on Thursday after allegedly mowing down Quinn Broyles, 13, who had been riding an e-scooter at around 7.20pm on Wednesday in Canby.

Quinn was airlifted to Randall Children’s Hospital following the incident, where she later succumbed to her injuries, police said.

Churchwell had fled from the scene in a van that police identified as belonging to a local plumbing company and was found hours later at his home, KPTV reported.

Churchwell was booked into Clackamas County Jail on charges of second-degree manslaughter, failure to perform the duties of the driver, reckless driving and reckless endangering in the teen’s death.

The local plumber pled not guilty in court on Thursday, but prosecutors argued that his van was so damaged that its radiator was leaking.

‘He had been drinking and claimed not [to] have been drinking until he arrived home,’ the state lawyer said.

‘And claimed he noticed a bump, but didn’t think he had hit anything.’

Canby Police Captain James Murphy said: ‘It always hits hard when it’s an innocent young person of course.’

Quinn’s family released a heartbreaking statement shared by the Canby Police Department, describing their daughter as a ‘young girl who touched so many hearts in such a short amount of time.’

‘Quinn was taken from us far too soon…We truly believe this angel among us was sent from Heaven above, and although we weren’t ready, the Good Lord welcomed her back again with open arms,’ they wrote.

‘Quinn made an extraordinary impact on several communities and countless lives.

‘She wasn’t just a daughter, sister, friend, a teammate, a captain or a dancer. She was an inspirational young leader whose love, determination and character left a lasting impression on the youth in our communities.’

The young teen was said to be ‘devoted to her family’ and enjoyed going camping, vacationing, dancing, basketball and ‘most importantly, the relationships she built along the way.’

According to her family, Quinn shared her mother’s ‘fiery passion and sharp wit’ and her father’s ‘stoic nature and his remarkable ability to bring people together.’

‘She was strong-willed, determined and never afraid to let her personality shine,’ her family continued.

‘She was a beautiful combination of both her parents… Those who truly knew Quinn understood that behind her competitive spirit was a heart filled with loyalty, love and an unbreakable devotion to the people who mattered most to her.

‘The value of Quinn’s life cannot be measured by the number of years she was here, but rather by the countless lives she touched, the friendships she created, the memories she gave us and the legacy she leaves behind.’

Pacific Plumbing and Drain Services, the company van Churchwell had been driving, shared a statement with KOIN expressing sympathy for Quinn’s family.

‘First and most importantly, our hearts are with the family of the girl involved in last night’s tragic accident in Canby. We learned of the incident first thing this morning, including the possibility that one of our fleet vehicles was involved. We immediately contacted the Canby Police Department and are cooperating fully with their investigation,’ the company said.

The Bridge City Soccer Academy in Canby shared on Facebook that the team described her as being ‘funny, athletic, kind, outgoing, confident and a bright presence in our community.’

Canby Junior Basketball wrote on Instagram that Quinn had ‘brought so much joy, energy and love to our basketball community.’

‘Quinn loved basketball, her teammates, and her family deeply. She was a leader on her team throughout the years, someone who encouraged those around her and was loved and valued by her teammates, coaches, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know her,’ the post continued.

‘She had so much life ahead of her, and our hearts ache for all that she should have experienced.’

A fundraiser for Quinn’s family, her mother Sarah, father Ryan and brother Tyler, on Support Now said that the young teen had a ‘bright future ahead of her.’

‘This sudden loss has left her family, basketball team, school mates and everyone that knew her devastated,’ the page continued.

Churchwell is set to appear in court again on Thursday.

The Daily Mail reached out to the Canby Police Department for comment.

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