A pedestrian was killed Friday night after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Gravois Avenue and Potomac Street in south St. Louis, according to police. The driver took off, leaving the victim in the roadway as emergency crews were called to the scene late Friday evening. As of Saturday morning, authorities had not released the victim's name or age.
Police: Vehicle Fled the Scene
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to the intersection at about 10:30 p.m., according to KSDK. Officers said the vehicle involved in the crash left the area, and detectives are now working to reconstruct the collision and determine how it unfolded.
Gravois Labeled a Dangerous Stretch
Transportation advocates have long flagged Gravois Avenue as a high-crash corridor. A 2023 crash report from Trailnet lists the route among the most dangerous in St. Louis for people walking and biking. Local reporting has also highlighted other serious crashes near the Potomac intersection, including a 2025 hit-and-run that left a cyclist injured; see First Alert 4 for that coverage. Those incidents have helped make the corridor a regular target of community calls for traffic-calming measures.
Legal Consequences for Leaving the Scene
Under Missouri law, leaving the scene of an accident that results in death is a class D felony and requires drivers to stop and provide identifying information, per RSMo §577.060. A conviction can bring prison time and fines, and prosecutors may seek enhanced charges depending on prior offenses or other evidence that emerges as the case develops.
What Officials Are Saying and Next Steps
Authorities are asking for the public's help and urged anyone with information or dash‑cam footage from around the time of the crash to contact investigators, according to KSDK. Detectives continue to review the scene and check available surveillance as they work to identify the driver and determine potential charges.
