Hit-and-run accidents are horrifying. The driver leaves the scene despite knowingly leaving someone there with injuries. Family members or witnesses are left to try to decide how to best handle the tragic incident that just took place. In some cases, the delay in getting care or calling for help can mean the difference between life and death.
This case is an example of a life taken far too early because of a driver’s poor decisions. A father of seven who died after being hit by a car was paid homage to in a Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on Jan. 17. The man, 47, had been walking to work at around 7:00 a.m., when he was hit by a car near Cuming Street and 21st. The driver who struck him was accused of being behind the wheel while intoxicated.
While the 47-year-old father survived a few days, he eventually succumbed to a head injury that he’d suffered in the crash. The driver who struck him is now facing charges including potentially motor vehicle homicide — DUI, DUI resulting in bodily injury and leaving the scene of the accident.
This crash is one that likely could have been avoided. Drivers who choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated put themselves and others at risk of serious injuries and death. They put families in jeopardy and threaten their financial stability. It’s vital to locate hit-and-run drivers as soon as possible, so the victim can obtain the compensation he or she needs to focus on recovery without worrying about who’s going to foot the bill.
Source: Omaha World-Herald, “Man, 47, dies after suffering head injury in hit-and-run,” Emerson Clarridge, Jan. 20, 2018
