GAINESVILLE — The Georgia State Patrol has collected more evidence in a hit-and-run incident that critically injured a man on Clarks Bridge Road almost a week ago.
GSP Sgt. Anthony Coleman said Tuesday that investigators are sure now that they are looking for a Ford Explorer, model year between 2006 and 2010.
"We've obtained some more evidence - some debris of the vehicle that was actually left at the scene that was initially removed by someone else," said Coleman. "We've now got it in our possession."
Coleman said investigators are typically very successful in tracking down information in hit-and-run cases. He said they've been trying to pinpoint more evidence about the vehicle since the incident occurred on Thursday, June 25 around 10 p.m. Now that they have that, they will work with the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office to get tag information. They also will begin a door-to-door search for the vehicle.
"We're going to do a heavy concentration in that area on Clarks Bridge Road and the neighboring roads," said Coleman. "We even go into convenience stores if they're in that general area and try to utilize their video footage to try to identify a vehicle that was in the area."
Clyde Smith, 64, who was walking along the road just north of Limestone Parkway when he was hit, remains hospitalized.
Coleman said if the driver of the vehicle has stopped at the time of the incident, he or she would be in far less trouble than they are now.
"If they had just stayed at the scene, you know, [even] if their license were suspended or if they had a warrant on them or you know, even if they'd been drinking, that is very minor compared to what they're facing now," said Coleman.
The Georgia State Patrol is still asking for information from the public in this case. Anyone who has information can call the GSP post in Gainesville at 770-535-6922.
