Santa Barbara hit-and-run victim Mallory Dies (photo from SB Independent)
An ongoing collection of unsolved hit-and-run cases, with a focus on car/pedestrian incidents, from across the country since Jan. ‘010. If you know something about any of these incidents, or one that I’ve missed, do the right thing and call the police, even anonymously.
4532. Corpus Christi, Texas. Dec. 16. 52-year-old man critically injured when struck by a dark-colored Dodge 1500 truck between the year models 1994-2001 which fled the scene. (Update: More info)
4533. Palo Alto, Cal. Dec. 18. 78-year-old man injured when struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4534. Biloxi, Miss. Dec. 15. Man in his 50s injured when struck by a truck which fled the scene.
4535. Cleveland, Ohio. Dec. 13. 13-year-old girl suffers broken leg when struck by a dark-colored (possibly maroon) Dodge Caravan or Ford Windstar, possibly from the early 2000s, which fled the scene.
4536. Bryant, Ark. Dec. 17. Woman seriously injured when struck by a pickup truck which fled the scene.
4537. Brooklyn, NY. Dec. 19. 65-year-old woman injured when struck by a vehicle which fled the scene.
4538. Flint Twp, Mich. Dec. 19. 42-year-old woman fatally struck by a white SUV which fled the scene.
4539. Inkster, Mich. Dec. 19. Man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4540. Tucson, Ariz. Dec. 19. Man in his 30s suffers life-threatening injuries when struck by a dark-colored sedan which fled the scene.
4541. Bryant, Texas. Dec. 17. Woman injured when struck by a pickup truck which fled the scene.
4542. Las Vegas, Nev. Dec. 19. 49-year-old woman fatally struck by a white four-door sedan which fled the scene.
4543. Little Rock, Ark. Dec. 19. Blind man critically injured when struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4544. Longview, Texas. Dec. 21. 33-year-old woman fatally struck by a red or maroon truck which fled the scene.
4545. Houston, Texas. Dec. 20. Man on bicycle fatally struck by a truck which fled the scene.
4546. Phoenix, Ariz. Dec. 21. Man injured when struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4547. Moorpark, Cal. Dec. 21. 11-year-old boy on scooter injured when struck by a tractor-trailer which fled the scene.
4548. Denver, Colo. Dec. 21. Pedestrian suffers serious injuries when struck by a dark SUV which fled the scene.
4549. Lincoln, RI. Dec. 21. 23-year-old woman injured when struck by a light-colored, newer sedan — possibly a Hyundai or Toyota — which fled the scene.
4550. North St. Louis Co, Mo. Dec. 21. Pedestrian fatally struck by a pickup truck which fled the scene. (UPDATE: Arrest)
4551. Canarsie, NY. Dec. 21. 51-year-old man fatally struck by a black four-door sedan which fled the scene.
4552. Evans, NY. Dec. 22. Man fatally struck by a newer-model Ford SUV which fled the scene.
4553. Concord, NC. Dec. 22. 50-year-old man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene. (Update: Arrest)
4554. Berlin, Ct. Dec. 21. Pedestrian fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4555. Amherst, NY. Dec. 23. 71-year-old man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4556. Woodbridge, Va. Dec. 22. Man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4557. Springfield, Ill. Dec. 22. 53-year-old man injured when struck by a 2007 Buick which fled the scene.
4558. Springettsbury Township, Pa. Dec. 22. 77-year-old man in wheelchair injured when struck by a dark SUV which fled the scene.
4559. Plains Twp., Pa. Dec. 20. 20-year-old man on bicycle injured when struck by a likely Chevy Silverado which fled the scene.
4560-61. Eau Claire, Wisc. Dec. 22. Two men injured when struck by a dark-colored four-door sedan which fled the scene.
4562-64. Chicago, Ill. Dec. 22. Mother, father and son injured when struck by a black Toyota Avalon which fled the scene; suspect taken into custody shortly thereafter.
4565. Sandyston, NJ. Dec. 22. Person fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4566. Port Arthur, Texas. Dec. 22. 31-year-old man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4567. Washington, Pa. Dec. 22. 60-year-old man fatally struck by a vehicle from which the driver bailed and ran from the scene; driver soon caught.
4568. Humble, Texas. Dec. 22. Man loses leg after being struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4569. Sacramento, Cal. Dec. 23. 11-year-old boy injured when struck by a white or light-colored late 1970s to early 1980s Ford or Chevy-type full-size van with a raised roof cap which fled the scene.
4570. Boston, Mass. Christmas Eve. Tow-truck driver injured when struck by a pickup truck which fled the scene.
4571. Roslyn, NY. Dec. 23. 51-year-old man critically injured when struck by a blue late-model Mercedes Benz which fled the scene.
4572. Brooklyn, NY. Dec. 23. 72-year-old man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4573. Houston, Texas. Christmas Eve. Woman fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4574. Queens, NY. Christmas Day. 29-year-old man fatally struck by a beige Toyota Camry with Pennsylvania plates which fled the scene.
Related stories:
And I quote (I)…
A Sioux Falls man was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges Tuesday, accused of leaving the scene after seriously injuring a woman who was walking to work the previous morning.
Mark S. Morris, 33, faces up to two years in prison and driver license revocation if convicted.
The collision Monday morning on Grange Avenue, on the east side of Sanford USD Medical Center in central Sioux Falls, injured Reva Rezac, a 58-year-old hospital employee.
Rezac remained in critical condition Tuesday.
And I quote (II)…
The 20-year-old man arrested Wednesday in connection with the fatal hit-and-run in November has been convicted of 13 traffic violations in the past four years.
James R. Erdmann Jr., of Poy Sippi, was arrested by the Ripon Police Department on Wednesday after Appleton police issued an arrest warrant on charges of a hit-and-run resulting in a death.
Police said Wednesday that Erdmann was the driver of the truck that struck and killed 61-year-old Robert Joosten on Nov. 9. Joosten, of Little Chute, was riding his bicycle home from work near the Wisconsin Avenue and Ballard Road intersection, and Erdmann, who was driving with a suspended license, struck the bicyclist and did not stop, police said.
Miscarriage of justice.
And I quote (III)…
Michael Hanna, 30, was charged in January for leaving the scene of an accident. Police say Hanna struck and killed Vaughn Steele, 26, on East Avenue near Kilbourn Road. Hanna called police hours after the accident, saying he thought he hit a garbage can. A judge dropped the charges against him after reviewing the grand jury minutes, saying there was not enough evidence to support the charges.
And I quote (IV)…
With their backs to a late-afternoon sun dipping into the white-capped ocean and casting a cool, diffused glow on the mountains ahead, hundreds of mourners gathered Tuesday at Shoreline Park to remember Mallory Dies.
They talked about a quick-witted and rambunctious little girl toughened up by two brothers, who grew into a cheerleader and sorority sister inspired by history and politics and cherished by countless people in Santa Barbara and beyond. The 27-year-old was sweet and brave and funny, her dad said, recalling her “little snort” of laughter he loved so much and damning the “preventable plague” that took her away.
Dies was hit by a drunk driver just after midnight on December 6 as she crossed Anacapa Street with a group of friends. She suffered severe head trauma in the collision and was taken off life support five days later. The driver, Raymond Morua, fled the scene and was arrested a few blocks away when he crashed his car. Police said his blood-alcohol level at the time was more than twice the legal limit.
And I quote (V)…
APD: 4 Detectives Handing 10000 Hit-And-Run Cases
And I quote (VI)…
The Dodge eventually crashed and the airbags deployed. But it became clear to Tweedie this was no accidental crash. Tweedie saw an officer running with his gun drawn and jumped in to help out.
“We were yelling at the shoppers from people coming from the John Hancock building somebody grab him, somebody grab him,” explained Tweedie.
And I quote (VII)…
Police are continuing to investigate a hit-and-run in which a 10-year-old boy was struck by a car and injured while crossing Broadway Nov. 11.
Aisea Cruz, a fifth grader at Consentino School, suffered pelvic and rib injuries. He has returned to school while recovering from the injuries.
The boy’s mother, Katy Cruz, said police told her they have little hard information to go on, other than a visual description of the vehicle provided by witnesses — a silver or grey Mercedes-Benz.
“A detective I spoke to said he is doing the best he can and that he sympathizes with me, but that he doesn’t have any leads,” Katy Cruz said. “Police told me they are still investigating and hope that someone will call them with a lead they can check up on.”
And I quote (VIII)…
Annapolis Police charged a 17-year-old boy after officers said he bailed from from a stolen sport utility vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident early Monday morning.
And I quote (IX)…
“As I have said repeatedly this year, the penalty for a hit and run must be increased in the State of New York to at least a maximum of 15 years in state prison,” Spota said. “Today, to leave the scene of the accident actually results in a lesser punishment than if a driver involved was found at the scene by police to be driving under the influence.”
And I quote (X)…
“The whole neighborhood needs to be involved,” said neighbor Sandy Jones. “They need to find the guy I think they ought to put out an APB on him and just get everybody involved.”
And I quote (XI)…
An Oxnard police officer on bicycle patrol sustained minor injuries after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver, authorities said Monday night.
And I quote (XII)…
A Mont Vernon, N.H., man was texting while driving when he struck and killed the former Amherst fire chief, authorities said Tuesday.
Hillsborough County Attorney Patricia LaFrance said Travis Hobbs, 20, was charged with negligent homicide in connection with the crash that killed John Bachman, 71, on Monday.
Hobbs told police he was texting and thought he hit only a snowbank. He came forward after seeing news reports about the crash.
Bachman, who was also a local businessman, was getting his mail when he was struck. He was found injured in a snowbank and later died at the hospital. Hobbs was arrested Tuesday and released after posting $50,000 bail plus $1,000 cash. As part of his release, he is not allowed to drive.
And I quote (XIII)…
A Holbrook woman has been arrested and charged in an October fatal hit-and-run accident, Suffolk police said Tuesday.
And I quote (XIV)…
A Lincoln man wounded in a deadly gunfight after a hit-and-run accident on July 4 last year has been sentenced to 25 to 45 years in prison.
And I quote (XV)…
A 27-year-old Denver man with a history of violence and bad driving faces vehicular-homicide charges after a Christmas-morning crash that left a woman dead and injured three members of her family.
And I quote (XVI)…
SNOHOMISH, Wash. — A hit-and-run victim’s unusual injury made it easy for police to match a car to the crime.
The tear across Jess McCormick’s finger is the only injury he suffered after sliding across the hood of a car aimed right at him.
“He wasn’t acting like a rational human being would be acting,” said McCormick, a Snohomish County fire fighter.
And I quote (XVII)…
OGDEN — It has been a year since David Saures was hit-and-killed while walking to a homeless shelter to get out of the cold on Christmas Eve.
But Ogden police said Wednesday they are no closer to catching the person responsible for the crash. Instead, authorities are hoping that person is has a “conscience” that prompts them to finally turn themselves in.
“What we’re looking for now is maybe somebody that knows what happened and maybe wants to clear their conscience a little bit,” said Ogden Police Lt. Steve Zaccardi.
Caught, convicted, court appearance or car-on-car in … Wichita Falls, Okla.; Hopatcong, NJ; Harlingen, Texas; Somers, Mass.; Hempstead, NY; Lansing, Mich.; Thornton, Colo.; Nazareth, Pa.; Chesapeake, Va.; Dayton, Ohio; Belvidere, Ill.; Huntington Station, NY; Visalia, Cal.; Billings, Mont.; Boulder, Colo.; Canton, Ohio; Phoenix, Ariz.
More hit-and-run stories, including every volume of Hit-and-Run America (in reverse order), are accessible from this linked page. (The full Volume-by-Volume list will appear sporadically from now on.)