A 14-year-old boy riding his bike home from the YMCA was struck by a driver in Hammond on Friday evening, and police say the motorist kept going without stopping.
The boy, identified by family as Michael McKemie, was injured in the crash and is recovering, but the driver who hit him is still on the loose. McKemie was reportedly headed home when he was struck, and his family says he called them screaming right after the impact. Investigators say surveillance cameras recorded the collision, and they are now turning to the public for help tracking down the driver.
The crash happened around 6:15 p.m. Friday at Northcote and 169th Street, according to ABC7 Chicago. Surveillance video shared with the station shows McKemie being struck as he rode toward home, the outlet reported.
"It almost feels like you're violated," McKemie's mother, Diana, told ABC7 Chicago. She said her son called her immediately after the crash and that the family is shaken by the fact the driver never stopped to help. Hammond police have not announced any arrests and are still asking for tips or video from anyone who may have seen what happened.
What the law says
Indiana law requires any driver involved in a crash to stop, provide reasonable assistance and report the incident. Failing to do so can bring charges that range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on how badly someone is hurt. State law specifies that leaving a crash scene where another person suffers moderate or serious bodily injury can be charged as a Level 6 felony, with more severe outcomes leading to higher-level felony charges, according to the Indiana Code.
How to help
Hammond police are urging anyone with information or video of the crash to come forward. They are asking residents and drivers in the area to preserve any doorbell camera, security footage, dash cam clips or cell phone videos from around the time of the incident, noting that even brief clips could help identify the vehicle or driver.
