One of the most difficult cases for law enforcement to investigate is fatal pedestrian accidents in which the driver leaves the scene. This happened twice in one day on Saturday, Jan. 25, in two different locations, when two men lost their lives in hit and run accidents.
At about 7:20 p.m. at the Golden Rock Shopping Center near the entrance to Pueblo, 70-year-old Theodore Phillip was struck by a trailer being towed by a pickup truck. He was knocked to the ground and then struck again by the driver of an SUV who left Mr. Phillip fatally injured in the street.
About an hour later, at about 8:30 p.m., in Constitution Hill in the vicinity of the Viking Corporation sign, 55-year-old Socorro Parrilla was also the victim of a hit and run after being struck by the driver of a small vehicle who left the scene of the accident. Mr. Parrilla was also left on the side of the road to die.
In these accidents the drivers panicked and left without rendering assistance to the victims. No one sets out to harm anyone with their vehicle, but something occurred to cause these tragedies. Police on St. Croix are simply asking you to come forward and tell us what happened. Don’t let this linger in your mind. Think about the families who deserve closure. Ask yourself one simple question, one you certainly would want to know, "Did my family member suffer after being hit by your vehicle, and did you stop to help them?
To everyone: too often we see but we don’t want to see. These deaths are just two of the many who have lost their lives walking our roads where no one came forward to say what happened. Over the past several years more than 15 people have lost their lives on our roadways, including a grandmother on her way to clean the church, walking with her grandson.
Please help police find the people involved and stop this callous disregard for human life that is overtaking our society. Remember, you can make a difference if you would only tell what you know.
