Nearly a year after a hit-and-run in north Charlotte shattered his life, Frank Leon Dent has died. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Friday that Dent passed away on May 28, 2026. Family members said he never fully recovered from the injuries he suffered when a vehicle struck him and fled the scene, and that the crash left him first hospitalized, then in long-term care. His death comes about 10 months after the crash.
According to a CMPD news release, detectives with the Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating the case as a fatal hit-and-run and say the driver fled the scene. As first reported by WCNC, investigators have not announced any arrests in the case.
The crash happened the night of July 18, 2025, while Dent was crossing in the 2300 block of West Sugar Creek Road, and MEDIC crews took him to the hospital with life‑threatening injuries, family members told WSOC. Relatives said he underwent multiple brain surgeries and months of care, and later needed long‑term assistance with everyday tasks. They previously offered a reward and repeatedly pleaded for anyone with information to speak up.
CMPD Seeks Witnesses
Detectives are asking anyone who knows anything about the case to contact Detective Worthy at (704) 432‑2169 ext. 4 or leave an anonymous tip with Charlotte Crime Stoppers at (704) 334‑1600, according to the CMPD release. Investigators said they are gathering video and witness statements from along the West Sugar Creek Road corridor as they continue their work.
Relatives described Dent as a devoted grandfather and a hardworking man who was walking to a bus stop for an overnight shift when he was hit, WSOC reported. The family said surveillance video from a nearby business captures the police response but does not clearly show the vehicle that struck him.
No arrests have been announced and the investigation remains active. Anyone who may have been in the area on the night of July 18, 2025, or who has dash‑cam or door‑cam footage, is asked to contact CMPD or Crime Stoppers.
