INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD is investigating after a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Indianapolis' west side early Tuesday.
The crash was reported around 1:15 a.m. May 28 in the 6900 block of West Washington Street, near South Girls School Road. Officers located a man with trauma who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the man as 47-year-old Roy Wayne Hodges Jr.
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows Hodges walking down Washington Street toward South Girls School Road when what looks to be an SUV hits him from behind.
Seconds later, another driver passes him.
"It's not surprising, really. Like I said, we've seen multiple people have accidents out here," said Dustin Nardi, owner of Darrell's Alignment-Brake Service.
Nardi said people fly up and down Washington Street day and night.
"I mean, when people are walking by, people are just walking in our grass here. There is nowhere for them to walk at," Nardi said.
And he isn't wrong.
When 13News went up and down Washington Street between South Girls School and High School roads Tuesday, there were no sidewalks.
"As we walk in traffic, a good idea would be to walk toward traffic so you can see that oncoming traffic as you walk through. Just as another precautionary, wear a reflective vest if you're traveling at night," IMPD Ofc. William Young said.
As for why people are driving off after hitting someone, Young said some people leave the scene because they're scared.
"Driving is not a right, it's privilege, and so we have a responsibility to whenever we're on a crash to stay on scene, render aid, and dial 911 and wait for those authorities and fire and EMS to arrive," Young said.
Young said if you don't, you'll be in more trouble than if you stayed at the scene.
IMPD asks if anyone recognizes the vehicle from the surveillance video or if you were driving in the area when it happened, to call police. You can also call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana anonymously at 317-262-8477.