The driver involved in a Salem hit-and-run that seriously injured chef Luke Hargrove remains unidentified. Hargrove, 46, head chef at Anette’s Westgate Cafe, suffered a shattered knee, broken ribs, an injured hip and facial lacerations in the collision.
Salem police say the crash happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, according to KOIN. The driver briefly stopped and then fled toward downtown Salem, KOIN reported, citing G’anna Dennis, the mother of Hargrove’s girlfriend. Dennis said Hargrove was crossing the street when he was hit. He had been waiting for his girlfriend to finish her shift as a bartender.
Preliminary police information cited by KOIN describes the vehicle as possibly a dark-colored 1990s Honda Accord. Dennis told the station that Hargrove went to the hospital after the collision and was initially sent home. He returned soon afterward because of severe pain, she said, and doctors diagnosed a shattered knee and performed surgery.
A Painful Road to Recovery
Dennis told KOIN that Hargrove also suffered broken ribs, an injured hip and facial lacerations. She estimated he would need six weeks to heal and said he would be unable to work for several weeks. The crash also left him without a silver chain bearing his mother’s rings, she said.
“He’s just a wonderful guy,” Dennis said, praising Hargrove.
Police Still Searching for the Driver
Salem police are asking anyone with information about the hit-and-run to come forward. Dennis also urged people to share what they know. The case reference number is 26-77722; tips can be directed to police at 503-588-6123.
What Salem’s safety plans show
Salem received a $2.8 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant for citywide Vision Zero street-safety work, according to KOIN. The program aims to reduce pedestrian deaths and serious injuries. The reporting on Hargrove’s crash does not identify a confirmed location, so it does not establish whether the site is on a designated safety corridor or was targeted for specific improvements.
Threads user @ianhillmedia also posted about Hargrove’s injuries and the preliminary vehicle description. The driver has not been identified, and no arrest has been reported.
