A UW-Whitewater student was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Prince and Main streets about 5:20 p.m. Nov. 24. The driver reportedly fled the scene.
Sophomore Stephen Johnson, 20, became the second pedestrian hit by a vehicle on Main Street this semester, after a Fort Atkinson woman was also hit at the intersection of Main and Cottage streets on Oct. 14.
Johnson, a journalism major, was walking south across Main Street when witnesses said a compact, silver Mazda struck Johnson. One witness said the first digit of the license plate was the number '1,' but wasn't certain of the rest of the digits.
"I got to about the midline of Main Street and this guy was turning left going eastbound and he didn't even see me at all, he didn't even slow down and knocked me over," Johnson said.
Graduate student Jonathan Schalow, who witnessed the accident, said the suspect was a white college-aged male, with short, brown hair, about 6'3" and 150-175 Lbs.
"We saw his car stop, and he came over and said 'is he okay, is he okay' and then proceeded to leave," Schalow said. "So I took it as an act of faith that he would stay … I thought he was going to his car to get his license."
Johnson was admitted to Fort Atkinson Hospital where he was treated and released.
"Right now I've got a bruised left knee, a few scrapes ... other than that I feel fine," Johnson said. "I definitely lucked out ... but I'm not too happy he drove off."
The suspect reportedly drove away from the scene going east on Main Street.
"We've been searching and destroying all of our records trying to find a partial plate and see if we can't connect it that way," said Lt. Lisa Otterbacher of the City of Whitewater Police Department. "We would appreciate any assistance with this."
If anyone has information pertaining to the suspect, please call the Whitewater Police Department at 262-473-0555.
The Royal Purple will update the story as more information becomes available.
Be the first to comment on this article!