Edwardsville police seek hit-and-run driver

Edwardsville police are asking the public for help in tracking down a hit-and-run driver.

On Nov. 13, a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle at about 5:17 a.m. in the 2400 block of Illinois 157. The impact knocked the male victim unconscious and left him with serious injuries.

“He spent some time in the hospital,” Lt. Mike Fillback said of the victim’s condition. “He has been released from the hospital. He had some broken bones: a broken wrist and some bones in his back area. But he’s expected to make a full recovery. It’s just going to take time.”

Police said skid marks at the scene indicated the rider was several feet off the roadway when hit from behind.

Debris at the scene appeared to be parts from a 1990s Jeep Cherokee or similar vehicle. The involved SUV is expected to have damage to its passenger side.

The victim declined to comment.

“I can’t blame him,” Fillback said. “It’s pretty low of an individual to leave someone laying by the side of the roadway like that.”

Police decided to appeal for help from the public after exhausting all their leads.

“At this point, we’ve checked all the local parking lots,” in search of vehicles matching the suspect SUV, Fillback said. “Officers have been sitting there in the morning looking for a vehicle that fits the evidence. Now we’re hoping by getting the word out someone in the public will come forward with information or that the person who did this will have a change of heart.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Edwardsville Police Department at 618-656-2131 or on its anonymous tip line at 618-692-7552.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Edwardsville police seek hit-and-run driver."