A local tragedy has unfolded within the Vandeventer neighborhood as a 16-year-old boy, struck by a vehicle on January 8, succumbed to his injuries days later. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports that, just before midnight on the evening of the incident, they received a call about a pedestrian being hit in the 4000 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Upon arrival, police found the teen with serious injuries and in a state of disorientation.

A preliminary investigation disclosed that the boy was hit by an unidentified sedan, which fled the scene post-collision. In an attempt to save the teen, who by then was grappling with a head injury and broken ribs, he was taken to a local hospital. Having been deemed stable, the teen was released on January 11, only to be found deceased by a family member within their home located at the 1800 block of N. Sarah the following day, as reported by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

While the exact cause is yet to be unequivocally determined, the link between the hit-and-run and the teen's unexpected passing is currently being investigated. The St. Louis Medical Examiner's Office is working to establish the official cause of death.

Any person in possession of information about the hit-and-run incident is being called upon to contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be relayed directly to detectives at 314-444-0001, ensuring that the person contributing to justice can remain anonymous.