CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A local resident is asking anyone who saw a crash on East Main Street to come forward after she said a black Kia struck her parked white Chevrolet Cruze and left the scene.
Jill Kifer said the crash happened around 5:50 p.m. on East Main Street. She said the Cruze was parked in front of a house and that the other driver did not stop, did not leave information, and did not notify anyone at the home.
“I am absolutely shocked and disappointed that someone could watch a person hit a PARKED car and then drive away, and not call it in or even take a minute to stop at the house the car was parked in front of and let someone know what happened,” Kifer wrote.
She added, “Someone had to have seen something.”
A photo she shared shows major damage to the rear driver’s side of the white Cruze, including a broken taillight, crumpled quarter panel, and debris in the street. Kifer said the damage shows “this wasn’t just a little bump.”
She asked the public for any detail that could identify the Kia or its driver, including:
• A license plate number or partial plate
• A description of the Kia
• The direction the vehicle went after the impact
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chillicothe Police Department.
• Emergency: 911
• Non-emergency: 740-773-1191
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Southern Ohio Crime Stoppers at p3tips.com.
Ohio law on leaving the scene
Ohio law requires a driver who knows a collision happened on a public road to stop at the scene. Under Ohio Revised Code 4549.02, the driver must give their name, address, and the vehicle’s registration number to the owner of a damaged vehicle and to a police officer at the scene. If the other vehicle is unoccupied, the driver must securely attach that information in writing to a conspicuous place on the vehicle.
Failure to stop after an accident on a public road is a first-degree misdemeanor when the crash involves property damage only. The charge can increase if someone is seriously hurt or killed.
Kifer said the right thing would have been for the other driver to stop and take responsibility. Anyone who saw the black Kia on East Main Street around 5:50 p.m. is asked to call Chillicothe police with what they know.
