Hit-skip crashes under investigation

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Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department responded about 12:43 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, to the CVS parking lot, 143 E. Sandusky Ave., on a report of a hit-skip crash.

William Witten, 62, of Waynesville, told officers his vehicle was in the left lane of North Madriver Street waiting to make a turn westbound onto East Sandusky Avenue when a silver, older model Ram pickup truck struck the rear of his vehicle. The pickup then backed up, accelerated, and fled the scene eastbound on East Sandusky Avenue.

Security video footage from the nearby Village Pantry/Marathon gas station showed the pickup pulling from the gas station about 12:42 p.m. onto Madrvier Street and striking Witten’s vehicle. Officers were unable to obtain the pickup’s license plate number because of the video’s poor quality.

The truck appeared to have a hard-top bed cap and drop hitch, according to the security footage.

Witten was not injured and damage to his car was minor.

• A hit-skip crash was reported about 2:57 pm. Friday, Nov. 22, in the Goodwill parking lot, 1933 S. Main St.

Mary Lou Renner, of Sidney, told police she came out of the store and noticed her vehicle’s right rear tire, which she had just purchased from the adjacent TireChoice, was flat and there were fresh scratches on the vehicle’s side.

Police reviewed Goodwill’s security footage which shows an older male who was using a cane exit the store and get into a dark blue Chevrolet pickup truck. The truck then backs from it parking space, travels too far, and strikes Renner’s vehicle before leaving the parking lot.

Officers were unable to obtain the truck’s license plate number from the video footage.

The crashes remain under investigation.