DUANE SHERRILLEditor

A man who was the victim of a hit-and-run Thursday night when he was struck in the crosswalk on Lincoln Street wants to know what kind of person would run down a man crossing the street on a cane and then flee without stopping to lend assistance.

The victim, Kelvin Robertson, 68, a U.S. Navy veteran, said he was leaving London’s after eating dinner around 8 p.m. Thursday when he heard a vehicle approaching from behind like it was coming out of the alley behind the restaurant.

“I was crossing Lincoln in the crosswalk,” Robertson recalled, noting he heard the vehicle approaching but thought nothing of it at first since he was in the crosswalk. “They accelerated and hit me, knocking me down when I was hit by the passenger side of their vehicle.”

Robertson, who walks with the assistance of his cane, said his cane went flying as he was knocked to the pavement. Some patrons at the restaurant heard the impact and came to investigate as Robertson was writhing in pain on the pavement.

“It was a full-sized SUV, light to medium blue,” he revealed, noting he saw the hit-and-run vehicle as it sped off. “It had a white license plate.”

Robertson remains in the hospital, suffering a broken leg and injuries to his knee. “I’m going to have at least two surgeries,” he said, noting he isn’t out of the woods given the severity of his injuries and his age. “This could be the death of me.”

Police are investigating the hit-and-run and are hoping surveillance footage from security cameras in the area can help identify the culprit.

“What kind of person just runs over a person and runs off?” Robertson asked, noting there is a good chance the driver has a dent in his or her passenger-side door given the ferocity of the impact. “I just want the person caught.”

Anyone having information on the hit-and-run driver should contact the Tullahoma Police Department, or contact Investigator Josh Yates at 931-455-0530 ext. 113 or at jyates@tullahomatn.gov.