CORRECTION: A previous version of this post stated that the pedestrian was struck in the lighted crosswalk at 3900 Cedar Springs Road, at the intersection of westbound Reagan Street. According to police, the pedestrian was actually struck in the non-lighted crosswalk at 3850 Cedar Springs Road, which is at the intersection of eastbound Reagan Street.
A pedestrian crossing Cedar Springs Road was critically injured Thursday night when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver near the crosswalk at 3850 Cedar Springs Road, at the intersection of Reagan Street eastbound. There is only a painted crosswalk on the street and no traffic signals or lights at the intersection, near Thai Lotus Restaurant and the Drama Room.
Wayne Earl Priest, 55, who lives in the 2800 block of Reagan Street, was crossing Cedar Springs Road eastbound shortly after 9 p.m., according to a police report. A witness saw Priest “walking outside of the northern portion of the crosswalk by about 2 feet and then stop in the left lane near the double yellow lines.”
The witness said the suspect’s vehicle exited a private drive to the north and began traveling southbound on Cedar Springs, the report states. The front left side of the suspect’s vehicle struck the left side of Priest. The impact was so severe that it caused Priest’s shoe to fly off and strike the witness’ vehicle. Another witness told police he was “not totally certain” whether Priest was in the crosswalk at the time of the collision.
Priest was taken to Parkland hospital in critical condition. The suspect who struck Priest failed to stop and render aid or leave his information. A description of the suspect’s vehicle was not available.
UPDATE:
Lt. Scott Bratcher of the Dallas Police Department’s Traffic Division said the suspect’s vehicle is described only as a maroon four-door.
“Right now we’re looking for anybody who’s seen anything or knows anything to call our Vehicle Crimes Unit,” Bratcher said Friday afternoon. “That’s usually how we end up solving these things.”
The number for DPD’s Vehicle Crimes Unit is 214-670-5817.
Bratcher said he had no update on Priest’s condition.
City of Dallas, Texas…..what we have gone on about this has now happened, fix and put up signs please!!!!
Signs alone will not help. There needs to be a complete redesign of traffic flow on Cedar Springs (at least from Oak Lawn to Throckmorton) that reduces the street from 4 to 2 lanes plus a center turning lane/emergency lane for fire trucks. The remaining lane can be divided into a bike lane in each direction, all which will helps reduce vehicular speed and avoid tragic accidents like this one.
If you had your facts straight you would know that he wasn’t near the lighted crosswalk. He was at the crosswalk in front of Thai Lotus. Very poor reporting. Oh, the reason I know is that I was there.
@Randall: The post has been corrected. Thanks for the info. The police report actually says 3800 Cedar Springs, which is the intersection of Oak Lawn, but obviously it’s wrong. We’re working to get more info.
Yea I was there too…. was walking back from Macho Nacho and saw the officer leaning over the front of her car filling out notes on a note pad around 9:45 or so… I did not see the accident but I must have been looking in that direction from the patio of Macho Nacho when it allegedly happened; remember the police… wish I could remember.
I can almost rewind it in my head. I forget.
I am Waynes roommate. I didn’t find out what happened until my landlord and Fox news came to my house yesterday. He left our apartment around 8:30 or so to go to Walgreens and pick up his prescriptions. The police came by last night with the news that he passed away from head injuries. He was a good man who would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought. From any news reports I can find the person who hit him drove a 4 door maroon car.
I was there and the guys looked bad. I just walked out of the Roundup just as it was happening. It is such a dark area I thought he was going to get hit by another car as he laid in the road the cars were going by so fast. There needs to be more lighting because of all the foot traffic. I hope the person that hit him comes forward and admits to their mistake.
I witnessed the entire horrible ordeal. I was driving towards Kroger in my car and the oncoming car hit the pedestrian approximately 30 feet in front of me. The pedestrian was in the crosswalk. The car is a midsize red, maroon like in color and it could be a 2 door or 4 door. I’m pretty sure it was a 4 door. The car that hit the man continued to drive down Cedar Springs and possibly turned into the Melrose hotel. I hope to God the police find this asshole soon.
HEY THIS IS JENNIFER.. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF WAYNE PRIEST…I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE CAN GET ME A TIME OF WHEN HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD….I WOULD LIKE ALL THE INFORMATION ANYONE COULD GIVE ME,… THANKS
WHAT PRIVATE DRIVE DID THE CAR EXIT FROM?? JESUS CHRIST, FIND THE MF THAT DID THIS!!!!!
Erick i need to talk to you please