A stretch of roadway near Straka Terrace in south Oklahoma City turned into a crime scene Tuesday when officers found a pedestrian critically injured after a hit-and-run crash, police said. The victim was suffering life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a local hospital, where they were listed in critical condition.
Witnesses told investigators the vehicle that hit the pedestrian took off heading southbound, and officers immediately began canvassing the area for any sign of the driver. The Oklahoma City Police Department has opened an active investigation into the collision.
Police told News 9 that officers located the victim with critical injuries and that the driver kept going instead of stopping. So far, the department has not released any description of the vehicle or the person behind the wheel. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and talking with witnesses in the neighborhood as they work to track down the hit-and-run driver.
Pedestrian Safety Still a Dangerous Weak Spot in Oklahoma
Pedestrians and bicyclists remain especially vulnerable on Oklahoma roads, and hit-and-runs are a big piece of the problem. According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, hit-and-run crashes and impairment are significant factors in the state’s deaths and serious injuries involving people on foot or on bikes.
ODOT’s strategic highway safety plan found that roughly one quarter of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries were classified as hit-and-run cases, and about 21 percent involved alcohol or drug impairment. The agency says a mix of engineering, enforcement and education, along with better nighttime lighting and safer crossings on mid-speed roads, is critical to driving those numbers down.
What Leaving the Scene Can Mean Legally
State law comes down hard on drivers who take off after a serious crash. In Oklahoma, a motorist who leaves the scene after causing injury can face felony charges and possible prison time. Legal references note that failing to stop after an accident that results in nonfatal injury can bring penalties of up to two years in prison, while crashes that cause a death can lead to even harsher sentences.
On top of any criminal case, people injured in hit-and-run collisions may also have the option to pursue civil claims, according to FindLaw.
How Neighbors Can Help Investigators
As detectives hunt for the driver in the Straka Terrace case, Oklahoma City police are asking residents and business owners in the area to check their doorbell and security cameras for any footage that might show the suspect vehicle. Even a brief clip could help.
Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 405-235-7300 or online at okccrimetips.com, according to the City of Oklahoma City. Police also told News 9 they plan to release more details as the investigation moves forward.
