My friend got hit by a car

[stevo]

A good friend of mine got hit by a car sunday night in orlando. What kind of person leaves someone lying in the road to die?

Police Hunt Hit-And-Run Driver In Orlando

POSTED: 6:37 am EDT April 24, 2006
UPDATED: 6:38 am EDT April 24, 2006

Police in Orlando, Fla., are searching for the driver who hit a man and left him for dead in a road early Monday, according to Local 6 News.

Investigators said the man was hit just off Colonial Drive near Bennett Road in Orlando just before 3 a.m. Monday.

A man in his 20s was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

"He was injured pretty bad," witness Jerry Bonhomme said. "Blood was coming out of his mouth and out of his elbow and his sides. It seemed that he got him pretty hard and the vehicle just kept rolling."

Officers were not sure what type of vehicle hit him but were investigating a car with damage at a nearby apartment complex early Monday. Police did not release the man's identity.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is urged to call Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this developing story.

Copyright 2006 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.local6.com/news/8951020/detail.html

Passing Drivers Find Man Lying In Road After Hit And Run

POSTED: 8:35 am EDT April 24, 2006
UPDATED: 12:28 pm EDT April 24, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando police are examining a car that could lead them to the person who hit a man and took off. Passing drivers found the man lying in the road and did everything they could to help him.

While police found the car they believe was involved, the driver is still on the run. The man, identified as 24-year-old Ethan Grimes, was hit early Monday morning in Orlando as he crossed Colonial Drive near Jamajo Boulevard.

Detectives with the traffic homicide unit are releasing very little information about the car or its owner, for fear that by doing so it might jeopardize the investigation.

Jerry Bonhomme was on his way home around 2:45 Monday morning when he saw a body laying on State Road 50. He quickly made u-turn and discovered Grimes had been the victim of a hit and run driver.

"I actually spoke to him. I said, 'Yo, you have to make it. There's no way for you to give up.' He just opened his eyes slightly," he said.

Colonial Drive is notorious for pedestrian fatal injuries. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, 11 people were killed by a driver last year.

It was no surprise to police when Crystal Morales called 9-1-1 to report that another man had been hit.

"We were trying to help him out, to wake up, but he wasn't responding. Only thing he would do was move his arms and legs," Morales said.

Grimes is from Jacksonville. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. However, police said, it's looking like he's going to make it.

"I think somebody's not human, to take the responsibility of hitting someone in the middle of the road and trying to escape," Bonhomme said.

Investigators received a tip that the person responsible was driving a gold Mazda and parked it at an apartment complex not far from where the victim was found. Detectives had that car impounded and are gathering more evidence that they said will eventually lead them to the person they are looking for.

Copyright 2006 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.wftv.com/news/8953486/detail.html

Car Involved In Hit-And-Run Crash Found

POSTED: 6:28 am EDT April 24, 2006
UPDATED: 12:38 pm EDT April 24, 2006

Orange County sheriff's deputies said they believe they've found a car involved in a hit-and-run crash on Monday morning, but they are still looking for the driver.

The crash happened at about 3 a.m. on East Colonial Drive at Jamajo, WESH 2 News reported.

Police identified the victim as Ethan D. Grimes, 24, of Jacksonville. He is in critical but stable condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

"The passer-bys came by after the accident occurred and found him lying in the roadway," an investigator said.
Click here to find out more!

Investigators said they got a break in the case when someone at an apartment complex heard someone bragging that they had hit someone. The bystander immediately called 911.

The tip led detectives to a tan mid-90s Mazda.

"We're not sure it's involved, but we have a strong belief that it may be involved so we're going to process that car, look for any evidence in that car that could link that car to the scene," said Sgt. Barbara Jones, of the Orlando Police Department.

When deputies arrived at the apartment complex, the owner of the car was not there. A search is under way to find the driver.

Copyright 2006 by WESH.COM. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.wesh.com/news/8951030/detail.html

he's going to be alright though. no head injuries I'm told. I've been told he has a shattered pelvis and his legs are real messed up. He was unconcious yesterday, but today he's breathing on his own and talking but he's not making much sense since he's so doped up. I don't think he remembers anything. I'm going to see him saturday. his wedding was scheduled for may 12. its hard for me to talk about it.

keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

[ash]

is he ok! have they found anything out?

[Topper]

I'm sorry for your friend, and hope they catch the bastard that hit him.

[DEI37]

This kind of stuff is crazy. I hope they find the guy that did it, big time, and hope your friend recovers in record time.

[analog]

Breathing on his own, and talking, are good signs. Lack of head trauma is also great. Sure, there will be rehabilitation for the legs and the pelvis, but at least he has no discernable brain or spinal damage. Rehabilitation is a lot better of a choice than quadriplegia. I hope his is a speedy recovery, and the fuckwit who hit him is found.

[JumpinJesus]

I've always considered hit and run one of the lowest forms of crime in existence. It's the act of the ultimate coward.

I'm glad your friend is going to be okay, even though it sounds like he's going to have a tough recovery. I'll keep in my thoughts and I hope the bastard who did this is caught.

[abaya]

Oh goddamn, I hate hearing about these things. I hope your friend will be okay... please let us know how he is doing.

There was a hit-and-run in my town over a year ago, and it made me so very angry and sad for a long time. Someone in a truck hit an elderly Chinese man who was walking home from his late-night shift at the supermarket... the man died there on the sidewalk, alone. I can't even imagine what a horrible end that must have been.

It took something like 6 months, but they did finally get the guy (based on some pieces of the car that fell off in the road). Fucking bastards do this kind of shit... they deserve the lowest circle of hell, if it existed.

[la petite moi]

Wow, I really hope your friend makes it alright.

And I really hope the asshole piece of shit that did that to him gets a long prison sentence. God damn.

[ShaniFaye]

Im so so sorry for your friend (and his fiance)

I hope he makes a full recovery!!!

[little_tippler]

I'm really sorry for your friend, that's just awful. I hope he makes a full recovery.

That asshole who hit him should rot in jail.

[Meditrina]

Your friend and his fiance are in my thoughts. I hope he has a full recovery.

[shalafi]

Im glad your friend is recovering. My friend just told me yesterday she has to fly up to Chicago this weekend to bury her 18 year old cousin who was just killed by a drunk driver. Apparently that was a hit and run too.

[stevo]

thanks for the kind words, all.

He's probably the nicest person I know. He's a very friendly, sensitive, gentel person. And its easy for people to take advantage of him. I'm pretty sure he was intoxicated sunday night, and he was out by himself. I heard through the grapevine that there's a chance the "accident" was intentional, but that hasn't been verified. I know how E acts when he's drunk. He's a very friendly drunk, and if you don't know him its possible he could piss you off (If your a hot-head jerk). I can't understand someone actually purposely running him down with their car, but I can see him being drunk and overly friendly with the wrong people that want nothing to do with him (basically, trying to make friends with everyone and when someone doesn't want him around he'll get even more friendly because he thinks he made someone mad). I've seen that kind of situation escalate, where someone threatens to get physically violent, but in the past he's always had someone around that will diffuse the situation and lead him away. I think he may have pissed off the wrong asshole, and that person tried to kill him with his car when the opportunity presented itself thinking he'd get away with it, or just not thinking at all. I'm not saying thats what happened, but thats the scenerio that plays out in my head. Its also highly probable he just stepped out in traffic, but why someone would then leave the scene and "brag" about it doesn't add up. Maybe he wasn't bragging and was telling someone out of fear, but then evading police and not fessing up if it was truely an accident doesn't really add up either.

He's been told before that orlando isn't like tallahassee and you just cant throw caution to the wind and put your safety into the hands of strangers (which is what you do when you go out by yourself and get wasted).

the main reason I think this, aside from my knowledge of E, is that there was a person bragging about hitting someone with their car over a cell-phone just a few blocks away just after the accident. The conversation was overheard by a neighbor who called 911 and reported it hearing the commotion down the street and hearing the cell phone conversation. I don't think the police see it as an accident since the traffic homicide unit is investigating, but then that could just be SOP for this type of incident.

I also heard that they caught this person, but that could just be one of those telephone game problems, since they "have a suspect" and a few word of mouths later that gets changed to "got the suspect." I haven't found any news updates since monday morning, so I'm not sure. I'm going to check Orange County's booking log to see if anyone was booked tuesday for anything possibly related. No one was monday.

None of our friends are allowed to see him in the hospital yet, except one, and we're getting updates on his condition through him. Basically he's getting better, I expect him to be upgraded from critical condition today. But I don't have many details other than what I've posted. I'll see him saturday, if they're allowing non-family visitors.

[stevo]

SCHMUKI, ERIC EUGENE 06017656 -- W / M 03/09/1984 04/25/2006 16:33
WINDERMERE FL 34786
11019 GALARY ISLE CT
CASE: 061533CFA
316.1935(4) AGGR. FLEE/ATT ELUDE A LEO W/INJ/PROP.DAM. FELONY / SECOND DEGREE
322.34(2)(B)-1 DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED (SUB. OFF) MISDEMEANOR / FIRST DEGREE

public record. If anyone lives in Orange County, ask the DA to prosecute fully. I will but I don't know if he'll listen to me since I'm not a constituent.

[The_Dunedan]

They got the bastard? Score one for the good guys! I hope they throw the book at him, the stinking bloody coward.

[feelgood]

Colonial Drive is notorious for pedestrian fatal injuries. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, 11 people were killed by a driver last year.

Holy macko! 11 people killed by one driver?!?

[stevo]

Originally Posted by The_Dunedan

They got the bastard? Score one for the good guys! I hope they throw the book at him, the stinking bloody coward.

I haven't been able to confirm that this is the guy, seeing how I won't be able to get a hold of the police report until next week. This guy was arrested for hit and run with injury/damage last tuesday, but there's probably several in Orange County every day. If this isn't the guy, they know who he is, but I don't know what they're waiting for.

E's doing better. sitting up, talking, moved out of ICU. No confirmation that he was intoxicated either. Man, I'm just a rumor mill over here, huh? penny for my thoughts?

[raeanna74]

I'm wishing your friend the fastest recovery. Most complete recovery with as few lingering problems as possible. I wish fiance all the best. It's good he's got a caring friends around it seems.

The first thought that came into my mind was that the driver had been drinking or on drugs. If that road is notorious for pedestrian accidents I'm sure he wouldn't be in too much trouble if he had not left. Now that he's left, was BRAGGING about it too and it appears he's running, he's gonna be in deep trouble. I hope he gets the highest penalty.

[Zodijackyl]

I wish the best for you friend.

Referring to another thread, if people can sue the cops for killing their gun-toting relative, then hopefully your friend can have all his medical expenses paid, still have money coming in for him to live while he recovers, and be able to get some luxuries to make him feel better. Having a fiance should be good though, because it's someone who loves him who will be by his side to encourage him through the recovery process.

[poundpuppy34]

Im hoping for a full recovery for your friend and our wishes are with you