Troopers looking for driver who hit teen in Wake Forest
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) -- A 14-year-old boy is in critical condition at the hospital after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Wake Forest Friday night. Highway Patrol is still looking for the driver and said they hope the person turns themselves in.
"It's better for you to come forward first than for law enforcement to have to track you down," said Lt. Jeff Gordon with the Highway Patrol.
An eyewitness told troopers the teen, Andrew Nacional of Wake Forest, was crawling in the middle of the street just before he was hit.
"Sometimes children and teens do things that are not logical," said Gordon. "For whatever reason he was in the roadway and was struck."
Nacional suffered a broken leg and facial fractures. The driver was going west on Burlington Mills Road.
There was no damage left at the scene and so far no surveillance video. Eyewitnesses said the driver kept going in possibly a black SUV. Investigators said the driver could have thought the child was a dog or a deer. But they are also looking into other reasons this driver didn't stop.
"Was the person impaired at the time? Did they not have a driver's license? Some things may come into play," said Gordon. "But the main thing is we need to locate that vehicle."
