Sheriff's office hopes holidays compel witnesses to come forward in fatal hit-and-runs
As the first holiday season approaches for central Ohio families who have lost loved ones in hit-and-run crashes, the Franklin County Sheriff's office wants to shine a new light on several unsolved cases in the hopes that investigators can bring peace to those grieving.
Three of the four unsolved hit-and-runs resulted in the death of a pedestrian. The fourth victim, also a pedestrian, continues to recover from serious injuries and will never walk again, Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert said.
According to data from the Ohio Highway Patrol, which compiles data from law enforcement agencies across the state, there have been 107 fatal crashes on Franklin County roads in 2023 as of Monday. This is the fewest number of fatalities since 2019.
The online data dashboard does not track how many crashes are hit-and-runs but does examine other factors, like the role of alcohol, distraction, speed or pedestrian crashes.
Of the 107 fatal crashes this year, 51 involved a person driving under the influence, and 55 involved a person who was not wearing a seat belt. Twenty-two of the crashes have involved a pedestrian. Thirteen of the crashes happened on Interstate 270, according to the Highway Patrol's data.
Ronald Hull of Franklinton
The first crash the sheriff's office highlighted occurred around 6:25 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2022.
According to the crash report, 60-year-old Ronald Hull of Franklinton was crossing West Broad Street between Broadlawn Avenue and Florence Avenue in Franklin Township.
A vehicle, believed to be a 2010 to 2015 silver, four-door Honda Accord with tinted windows, struck Hull. The Honda then left the scene, continuing west on West Broad Street. Gilbert said a second vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, also struck Hull but stayed at the scene. The SUV driver was able to provide deputies with information about the first vehicle, Gilbert said.
Hull died a short time later at OhioHealth Doctors hospital.
Emma Bailey of Grove City
The second crash occurred around 11:10 p.m. on August 3, 2022, in Jackson Township.
Emma Bailey, 18, of Grove City, was walking along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 270 east of the State Route 62 interchange. Bailey was struck by a vehicle that then continued east on I-270. Bailey died at the scene.
The sheriff's office has no leads on what vehicle may have been involved or any witnesses to the crash. Gilbert said it appeared Bailey had been walking on the highway when she was struck, but there were no calls to the police about someone being in the roadway before the crash.
Bailey was survived by a 1-year-old daughter who is now being raised by her grandparents.
"Any closure the family can get is very important to them," Gilbert said.
The third crash occurred around 2:40 a.m. on April 22 in Mifflin Township.
Donald Brown of Orlando, Florida
Donald Brown, 45, of Orlando, Florida, was found lying in the road on Johnstown Road near Stelzer Road, according to a crash report from the sheriff's office. It appeared Brown had been hit by a car.
Gilbert said around 2:20 a.m., Brown had called for an Uber to pick him up in the area where his body was found. When the driver arrived, they could not find a person who was to be picked up, which narrowed the window when the fatal crash may have occurred.
Gilbert said deputies don't have any information about a vehicle involved or witnesses to the crash.
Unidentified West Virginia man
The fourth crash occurred on Nov. 3 in Franklin Township.
Around 2:35 a.m., a 54-year-old West Virginia man, who is not being identified under Marsy's Law, was struck while walking in the southbound lanes of North Hague Avenue near El Paso Drive.
The vehicle, a 2013 to 2016 model year dark red Ford Fusion, fled the scene.
Video from a nearby business showed the vehicle pulling into the parking lot a few minutes later. The video is not of a high enough quality to get a license plate from the car, Gilbert said.
In the video, the man spends about two minutes inspecting the damage to the front passenger side of his vehicle before driving away.
Gilbert said the video is disturbing since it shows a clear disregard for the person the vehicle struck.
"This is indicative of somebody who knows they struck something. That’s somebody that’s left in the roadway," Gilbert said.
The sheriff's office is hopeful that someone with information on these cases will feel compelled to come forward with new details for investigators.
"Maybe they’re trying to get right with God or family, and they want closure themselves," Gilbert said. "We’re hoping somebody, with the holidays, understands and realizes that these families need closure. Maybe it’s weighing heavy on someone’s heart because it’s the holidays. Maybe somebody is trying to make amends with what occurred."
Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office tip line at 614-525-6113 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
bbruner@dispatch.com
@bethany_bruner
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sheriff's office asking for new info in fatal hit-and-run crashes
