HARTFORD -- Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the driver of a van that hit a man on Monday. The victim is now in a medically induced coma.
The incident happened near 333 Homestead Ave. on Monday morning. The victim, a resident at the Adult Rehabilitation Center, was legally crossing the street in the crosswalk in front of the Salvation Army building when a tan Chrysler Town & Country minivan hit him and sent him flying in the air. He landed 150 feet from the point of impact. According to police, the minivan operator pulled into a parking lot a short distance from the impact, then left the lot and continued east on Homestead Avenue and out of sight of the camera.
Police have released video of the accident and a photo of the van. The plate on the vehicle, 395-YMM, is not the one assigned to that van. Police said it's likely the van in question sustained damage to the hood, bumper and windshield.
The victim suffered from broken legs, arms and a head injury, according to police. He is at St. Francis Hospital. According to police, the man's injuries do not appear to be life threatening.
Capt. Leo Lloyd of the Salvation Army said the accident has been tough on the victim's fellow residents at ARC.
"It's been very, very hard. Everybody was just kind of getting in the Thanksgiving spirit and it's devastating," said Lloyd. "Our residents are here for 6 months minimum so they bond like family so this was their brother."
He said the victim was working on a second chance and he hopes the public will take a second look at the surveillance video.
"Somebody who was struggling with addiction and homelessness, was just reconnecting with his family, was excited about going home for Thanksgiving Day and had some relatives that were going to let him come home and was really excited about that," said Lloyd.
This is an ongoing investigation and the Hartford Police Department is requesting that anyone with information regarding the operator of the evading vehicle or the location of the vehicle to contact the Hartford Police Department. Anonymous tips can also be given at the HPD website: http://www.hartford.gov/Police.