Suspect surrenders in Raleigh hit-and-run case

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Hit-and-run investigation
Police said it was not a random act of road rage

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- UPDATE: A suspect in the Poole Road hit-and-run has turned himself in, Raleigh police said Tuesday night.

Jared James Lemm, 32, has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and felony hit-and-run.

Jared James Lemm, 32, has turned himself in connection with the incident on Poole Road in Raleigh.
Courtesy of Raleigh Police Department

Police said the incident stemmed from previous personal circumstances between the victim and the suspect.

ORIGINAL STORY: Authorities in Raleigh are searching for the driver who hit a man on Poole Road Tuesday morning and then fled the scene.

Police said that they are considering this case an assault and said it was not a random act of road rage.

Authorities identified the victim as Bruce Thompson, 44, of Garner.

According to officials, Thompson was rear-ended around 8:15 a.m. near Interstate 440 in southeast Raleigh.

When he got out of his pickup to check out the damage, the driver of the other vehicle struck him, and then drove off.

EMS took Thompson to WakeMed with serious injuries. His condition was not released.

Images from the scene showed the victim's truck stopped in the left turn lane to get on to the eastbound lanes of the Beltline.

The driver's side door of the pickup was pushed forward toward the front of the vehicle.

Investigators shut down a section of Poole Road for about two hours while they collected evidence.

"Un-human, it's uncalled for," driver Susan Draughon said. "I mean just to take off and leave somebody. I mean we have the Good Samaritan rule where we're supposed to stop and help anyone especially if it's your fault and you did hit somebody."

Officers are still searching for the driver who hit him. They said they are hoping to talk with more witnesses.

Anyone who saw anything related to the incident is asked to contact the Raleigh Police Department.