Neighbors say roadway where man struck in hit-and-run is dangerous

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 59-year-old man was struck and left for dead on Milwaukee's south side in a hit-and-run incident that occurred Saturday evening, November 2nd near Forest Home and Howard Avenues.

Officials say the man was crossing the street when he was struck by a vehicle that’s being described as a gray Nissan Versa with right front passenger-side damage.

The passenger-side mirror was recovered at the scene.

The victim is listed in serious condition.

"He was twisted up. He was like, crumpled up in a ball," neighbor Bernie Jock said. "There was a lady laying over a gentleman on the side of the road screaming at the top of her lungs."

Jock says the man was conscious when he approached, and told Jock he had been struck by a car. The car had fled the scene.

"His head was bleeding and scratched up.  It was not good, I started praying right away," Jock said. "He knew his name, knew what he was doing, knew he was going to get gas -- cutting across the street, looked both ways, there were no cars."

"They're telling him he's got a 50-50 chance of being paralyzed or not. He's got spinal cord injuries. He's got two fractured vertebrae. He's got lacerations all over his face. He can't feel his legs, his arms, his hands. He can't move," the victim's son, Joseph Konczal said.

On Saturday night, TV stations reported a description of the suspected vehicle, and police got a call that led them to the car and the driver, but neighbors say this incident is history repeating itself. They say the legal speed limit of 30 miles-per-hour is often ignored.

"The speed of vehicles coming down this street is really bad," a neighbor told FOX6 News. "Sometimes we almost get rear-ended trying to pull into our driveway."

"My neighbor's dog was hit here, my next door neighbor was rear-ended in her car, there was a car that hit a tree going down the street," Jock said.

Neighbors say one reason for the speeding seems to be stoplights in the area. They say people see the countdown and speed up so they can make it before the lights turn red.

Neighbors say drivers also often use the bike lane as a second lane.

It is unclear whether the driver in Saturday's incident has been arrested or whether any charges have been filed.

Meanwhile, Konczal says he has a message for that driver.

"I can`t believe how you just run somebody over and keep on going. I mean, please turn yourself in. You really injured somebody and you injured a whole family doing it," Konczal said.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this story!