SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
Five people were injured Wednesday night – two critically –in what authorities say was a hit and run on Quilly Street.
According to 1st Sgt. Kendrick Lowe, the Georgia State Patrol-Griffin Post commander, the incident was precipitated by a street fight involving numerous people.
“We were called out by the city to assist them with the accident – an accident involving a vehicle versus five or six pedestrians – and when we got there on the scene, everybody was gone except the person being life-flighted out. There was one life-flighted to Grady Hospital,” Lowe said. “There appeared to have been a fight in the middle of the street prior to our arrival between it looks like it could have been eight to ten girls, and the driver of this vehicle, which we think is involved somehow with that fight, whether she’s related to or knows some of the girls involved, she just drove through the middle of the street and into that crowd that was fighting.”
Five people were injured. One was flown from the scene to the Grady Memorial Hospital Trauma unit, and four were initially transported to WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital, with one being later transported by air ambulance to an Atlanta trauma unit.
Kendrick said those who were seen in the local emergency department were conscious and alert.
“One lady who was hit was in a wheelchair. She was an older lady who was hit and hurt,” he said.
Authorities say a suspect has been identified.
“So, we have a person of interest, but we don’t have them in custody because they left the scene of the accident, so this is a hit-and-run. We’re still trying to locate the vehicle. The vehicle is a gold Lexus SUV, but at this time, we don’t have it in possession. We’re still looking for that vehicle,” Kendrick said. “We do have enough information that we think we’ve positively identified her, but we’re still working on some things to confirm that.”
Kendrick said witnesses have not been willing to speak to those investigating the incident, but said cell phone video of the incident has been obtained, and he expects it will be useful in the case.
“I was blown away when I spoke with someone at the hospital last night – they had people injured at the hospital – but they didn’t want to talk to us,” Kendrick said. “But with the videos, we’ll be able to make a good case without talking to them.”
Asked if he believe this was a deliberate act, Kendrick said, “Oh, absolutely.”
