A woman walking her dog in Columbus was struck by a vehicle Tuesday morning, and the driver of the vehicle left the scene.
The pedestrian was struck as she was attempting to cross Walker Street at the Hwy. 108 intersection just downtown at 10:31 a.m., according to assistant police chief Chris Beddingfield. The driver was chased down by a resident who saw the incident, according to officials. She followed the driver to his residence and authorities took over.
Vernon Lloyd Lewis, 80, of Columbus, was given citations for the incident of misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident and failure to see before starting that it could be done safely. Lewis was driving a Ford Taurus.
Beddingfield says Lewis was unaware that he struck a person. According to the report, Lewis thought he struck a dog. When he saw the dog run off behind him, apparently unharmed, he proceeded home.
The pedestrian was transported by ambulance to St. Lukes Hospital. According to initial reports, she could have suffered a possible broken leg in the incident.
The Polk County Sheriffs Office and N.C. Highway Patrol also responded to another pedestrian who was hit on Industrial Park Drive near Polk County High School around 12:15 p.m. yesterday. Officers say the incident was minor, involving a vehicles mirror striking a pedestrian on the arm. The highway patrol is investigating that incident.