Yesterday night, a fatal hit-and-run collision on Interstate 270 in east Columbus claimed the life of one man and left two others injured. According to the Columbus Division of Police, the incident occurred south of East Broad Street around 10 p.m. Three men were reportedly struck by a vehicle while standing outside a parked car along the southbound lanes of the highway.
54-year-old Rafat Juaidi was transported in critical condition to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after. The other two men were also taken to the hospital and are described as "stable". As reported by WBNS, the authorities are actively searching for a beige Chevrolet Malibu, model years 2008-2012, which is thought to have incurred right front damage.
The aftermath of the crash led to the closure of the southbound lanes for several hours as detectives carried out their investigations, with roadways reopening just after 1 a.m. As indicated by NBC4i, parts of the suspect vehicle were recovered at the scene, which allowed the police to identify the make and model of the car involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. The tragedy of this incident is compounded by the hit-and-run nature of the crime, with the driver having failed to stop and render aid. The ongoing investigation seeks to not only uncover the exact circumstances that led to this loss of life and injury but also to bring the responsible party to justice to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.
