RIP Melany Valdez
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.
4917. Dallas, Texas. March 18. 7-year-old girl fatally struck by a black 2008 Chrysler which fled the scene but was later impounded.
4918. Auburn, NY. March 14. 19-year-old man suffers brain injury when struck by a Chevy Silverado which fled the scene.
4920. Hollywood, Fla. March 19. Man critically injured when struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4921. Abeline, Texas. March 18. Man injured when struck by a pickup truck which fled the scene.
4922. San Francisco, Cal. March 20. Woman in her 60s fatally struck by “a SUV driver who circled back to look at the fallen victim before speeding away.”
4923. El Paso, Texas. March 18. 83-year-old woman injured when struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4924. Raleigh, NC. March 19. 64-year-old woman injured when struck by a small light-colored sedan which fled the scene.
4925. Brooklyn, NY. March 20. 8-year-old boy injured when struck by a green Dodge Caravan which fled the scene.
4926-27. Santa Monica, Cal. March 22. 61-year-old woman killed and her 32-year-old daughter injured when struck by a silver sports coupe with tinted windows which fled the scene.
4928. Denver, Colo. March 22. Pedestrian injured when struck by a silver four-door sedan which fled the scene.
4929. Bedford Co., Va. March 21. Bicyclist suffers life-threatening injuries when struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
4930. Chicago, Ill. March 22. 33-year-old man fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle which fled the scene.
Related stories:
And I quote (I)…
The Howell Police Department continues to search for the person responsible for fatally striking a Spring Lake cyclist last Wednesday afternoon and fleeing the scene.
Around 2 p.m., Charles McHugh, 58, was riding his bicycle on Herbertsville Road near Blewetts Recycling in the township when he was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling south, police said. The car then fled the scene on Herbertsville Road, heading toward Brick or Wall.
The vehicle, described as an older model, black 1990s vintage four door car, is possibly foreign made (Toyota) with lighter silver accents on the fender flares and bottom of the doors and no window tinting, police said.
And I quote (II)…
A retired Cambridge police officer was arrested in connection to a hit-and-run on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston that critically injured a man Wednesday morning, police said.
And I quote (III)…
The driver got out of his car and ran across the athletic field where Brandon Rothstein, a Lynn lacrosse player, detained him.
“I said I’m taking him down. It was like 110 percent. I wasn’t going to drop my things to not tackle this guy,” said Rothstein.
Rothstein is a senior and criminal justice major.
“I’m very territorial of our campus and the dude was just running through campus, causing a scene,” said Rothstein.
And I quote (IV)…
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. – March 17, 2014 (WPVI) — A driver wanted in connection with a hit-and-run in Pennsauken, New Jersey over the weekend has surrendered to police.
Thirty year old Lita Hursey of Maple Shade turned herself into police on Tuesday night.
And I quote (V)…
HUNTINGTON BEACH – The community rallied to raise $1,000 to help cover medical expenses for a 17-year-old seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident last month.
A fundraiser held Sunday at Zack’s in Pier Plaza brought in $882 for Stephen Cureton, who was hospitalized Feb. 10 after being hit by a car at Yorktown Avenue near Beach Boulevard.
Councilman Joe Carchio presented the teen’s mother, Victoria Cureton, with a check for $882 at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Councilman Jim Katapodis pulled cash from his pocket to round out the donation.
“I couldn’t be there, but let’s make it an even $1,000,” Katapodis said as he handed her the money.
Victoria Cureton said her son has at least a year of surgery and recovery ahead of him. The teen suffered multiple cuts to his face and body, a blood clot in his spinal column, a broken scapula, a laceration on his spleen, a fractured knee cap and torn ligaments in both knees.
And I quote (VI)…
PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) – A man in a wheelchair who was hit by a car as he crossed the street in southeast Portland has died, and now the driver could face additional charges.
And I quote (VII)…
WYOMING, MI – Police are seeking the public’s help in finding the motorist whose vehicle struck and seriously injured a bicyclist March 15 on 36th Street.
The bicyclist, Joseph Errol Conigliaro, 52, is in critical condition at a local hospital.
The motorist fled after the 7:22 a.m. crash in the 600-block of 36th Street. Police found the victim unresponsive in the road.
And I quote (VIII)…
NEWPORT NEWS — For Walter Thomas Spain Jr., every day has been June 16, 2013.
It was the day his wife, Marcella Yvette Spain, was hit by a white pickup truck at about 9 p.m. at Warwick Boulevard and Hilltop Drive, near the Cedar Hill apartment complex where they lived. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“She was taking a walk she’d normally take — a neighborhood walk — when she was struck down,” Walter Spain said. “She was knocked over 140 feet down the road, virtually all her bones were broken. Most people I know treat animals better than that.”
And I quote (IX)…
I-Team: Man charged in fatal hit-and-run of NOPD officer accidentally released in Feb.
And I quote (X)…
DETROIT, MI — His car struck a man and woman about 10:30 p.m. Friday. He sped off as his victims lay dying in the street.
Detroit police arrested 43-year-old Marcus Hutson of Detroit and he now faces two counts of failure to stop at an accident causing death, each five-year felonies.
And I quote (XI)…
PORTLAND – Supporters of an alert system designed to spread the word about hit-and-run crashes hope to bring the system to Oregon.
The Medina Alert is named after Jose Medina, a 21-year-old man who was killed by a driver in Denver who drove away after the crash. The Medina alert is about 2 years old in the Denver area.
Police said it has generated tips and arrests. It works much like an Amber Alert. Vehicle information is sent to highway reader boards, but also to on-board computer screens in taxi cabs, delivery trucks and other vehicles.
Information also can be sent via text and put on appropriate websites.
“Hit-and-runs are one of the most unsolvable crimes in law enforcement and law enforcement needs our help. And if we are truly going to be out brothers’ keeper we are all have to do our part,” said Larry Stevenson, a retired Denver Police Officer who developed the Medina Alert.
Kristi Finney is pushing to get the Medina Alert to the Portland area, which would make it the second major metropolitan area to have it.
Her son Dustin was 28 years old when he was killed by a hit-and-run driver in August of 2011. Dustin was riding his bike when he was hit. The driver was arrested within a few hours, but Finney knows that isn’t usually the case. She hopes the Medina Alert will help catch hit and run drivers, and give victims and their loved ones some help.
Caught, convicted, court appearance or car-on-car in … League City, Texas; Shelbyville, Tenn.; Liberty, Ohio; Washington, Oreg.; San Antonio, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Stamford, Ct.; Fairfield, Cal.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Denver, Colo.; Irwindale, Cal.; Port Arthur, Texas.
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.)