Mar 6, 2008 10:59 pm US/Central
Man In Coma After Hit-And-Run, Searching For Car
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
-
-
Haleem Crooks, who has a wife and two children at home, is now in a coma.
The family of a Minnesota man hit by a car and left in the road is praying he'll recover. The accident happened last weekend in Maplewood when a car hit 28-year old Haleem Crooks, and then took off.
"And for something like this to happen, it's like, 'Why?' That's the first question you ask," said Raheem Crooks, Haleem's brother.
Raheem and the rest of his family have been at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, waiting for some good news on their loved one. Haleem, who has a wife and two children at home, is now in a coma.
"Yea, it's real tough," said Raheem. "A tragedy like this. It hurts. It hurts really, really bad."
It hurts Raheem to see his brother in the hospital bed, and the situation itself also hurts because he doesn't know who hit his brother.
Early Saturday, a relative found Haleem in the street, alone, and he needed medical attention immediately. Haleem left a party earlier in the night and started walking home on his own, but he only got to Price and Edgerton Streets on the South side of Maplewood.
That's when a car hit him, and then drove off.
Haleem's skull was fractured, and his organs were crushed. He also suffered a spinal cord injury.
"It's unfortunate. It's sad," said Lt. Dave Kvam with the Maplewood Police Department.
Kvam said he can't find anyone who saw the man get hit, but investigators did find one clue that might point them to who did it.
Part of a 1995 to 1999 Chevy Lumina's front fender liner was in the street. The car police are searching for should have damage to the front passenger side. There was pink overspray on the part that was found, but investigators do not know what color the car itself actually is.
"We're at sort of a loss, and we need the public's help," said Kvam.
Police have told local businesses, including body shops, about the hit and run.
"Someone had to have seen something," said Raheem. He would like anyone with information to come forward.
Raheem would also like to know why the person who hit his brother didn't care enough to stop and help.
"Praying for my brother. Praying for a safe recovery," he said.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
