Officers with the Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) continue to investigate a hit and run incident involving a male pedestrian.
Now, the victim’s family is coming forward asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect driver.
A relative who does not want to be identified says, “You (the suspect) left someone in the road to die and just kept going. How did this happen? Why did this happen? Was it an accident? Did you swerve?”
The 55-year-old victim was struck at the intersection of Colonial Drive and Bull Street shortly before 11:00 p.m. on June 3, 2018 while walking on the shoulder of the road with a friend.
After the impact, it’s believed that the suspect left the scene, traveling to Bull Street. After the incident, the friend called 9-1-1, an act the family believes saved the victim’s life.
Since the initial incident, the victim has endured multiple surgeries and remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
The family wants the public to know about the serious injuries the driver has caused their loved one to endure including: a leg amputation, severe blood loss, multiple bone fractures, daily use of a ventilator, and possible loss of an eye.
Another relative adds that the hardest part of the incident is seeing their loved one suffering.
“It’s been very difficult for us to make these life-saving decisions because he cannot answer questions. Seeing him vulnerable is difficult. He’s not aware of what’s going on or what happened. Knowing that he is in pain is a struggle.”
Now, the victim’s relatives have a direct message for the suspect (s).
“We don’t know all of the facts but we know that you didn’t call 9-1-1. Why wouldn’t you stop to make sure that he was OK? How would you feel if that was your loved one? If this happened to one of their loved ones, you would want someone to admit to what they did.”
Investigators collected evidence at the crime scene and are in the process of determining if the incident was captured on surveillance cameras.
Officers also continue to determine a description of the suspect’s vehicle. It is believed that it has right front end damage, especially to the headlight.
Citizens with information about the crime or vehicle are encouraged to contact Crimestoppers in any of the following ways:
Citizens with information about the crime are encouraged to contact Crimestoppers in any ways:
CALL toll-free, 888-CRIME-SC.
LOG onto: www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a tip” tab.
DOWNLOAD the new P3 Tips App for Apple or Android devices.