Four people were hospitalized after being struck by a car driven by an unknown person on Sunday night in northwest Dallas.
Police said that the incident began with a minor car accident between two motorists on West Mockingbird Lane and Brookriver Drive. The occupants of both vehicles had exited to take stock of the accident when they were allegedly struck by an oncoming car, per WFAA News.
The authorities believe that the driver of the third vehicle, a Kia Soul, had been trying to avoid the crashed cars. However, in doing so, the suspect reportedly hit the four pedestrians instead.
The identity of the driver is unknown and an investigation is underway, as they allegedly exited the car and ran off after the collision. Police said that the suspect will face charges once they are found.
The four victims have been taken to a nearby hospital and are expected to recover, Fox 4 News reported.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, pedestrian deaths account for one in five of all traffic fatalities in Texas. They also increased by approximately 15% between 2021 and 2022.
When a driver leaves the scene after striking someone, such as in this incident in northwest Dallas, it is considered a hit-and-run.
If someone is seriously injured or killed in the accident, the hit-and-run becomes a third-degree felony in the state of Texas. Sentences range from two to 10 years behind bars.
If someone is only slightly injured, the hit-and-run is considered a felony and, if found guilty, the person could be fined as much as $5,000 or see up to five years behind bars.
Last month a man was killed after being hit by a GMC pickup truck in Dallas and, according to police, the driver fled the scene. This hit-and-run occurred at around 3:35 a.m. on January 18, NBC 5 reported.
Investigators gleaned from surveillance footage that the driver of the pickup made a sharp turn along South Marsalis Avenue. The vehicle ended up on the sidewalk, allegedly striking a man on foot. Despite the authorities’ efforts to identify the driver, they have not, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Vehicle-related crime continues to be a problem in Dallas, where overall crime rates continue to rise despite the number of arrests doing down. Since the beginning of 2023, the Dallas City Council’s open data crime analytics dashboard has indicated over 1,800 vehicle thefts, with over 600 occurring in February.