Police confiscate car that may be hit and run vehicle
LAUDERHILL, Fla. (WSVN) -- Hollywood Police plan to admit a car found at a body shop into evidence for a hit and run crash that severely injured a pedestrian last Friday.
Late Wednesday morning, police placed crime scene tape around a silver Mercedes at Action Auto Body Shop, located at 4897 North University Drive. Police believe it may be the vehicle involved in a hit and run that was caught on camera Friday evening.
Employees at the shop noticed front end damage on the car plus a missing side-view mirror on the driver's side and called police at 10 a.m. Local media reports about the hit and run brought the damage to their attention.
According to employees, someone brought the car to the shop for some brake work before Memorial Day. They only noticed the damage this morning, as the shop was closed over the holiday weekend.
The victim, 51-year-old Marshall Chilton, currently lies in the hospital and could lose his leg as a result of the crash. He has several broken bones and has spent more than a dozen hours in surgery. Family members have traveled down from New York to be with him.
Chilton's story made headlines with the release of surveillance video that captured the entire hit and run as it happened. A security camera placed outside of Capone's Flicker Light Pizza Restaurant captured Chilton crossing the street at the 900 Block of A1A before he was struck. When Chilton got to the middle of the intersection, a motorist crashed into him and left Chilton's injured body on the road.
Reno Miller, the victim's neighbor, said the footage on the video gives him chills. "I still get goose bumps when I remember what happened," he said. "He was walking, and the car hit him, hit the front, hit the windshield, then he flew right over the car. The car just hit him, right about over there. He stopped for like a second, like he was going to stop for a second, and then zoom, he took right off."
The video also showed a waitress running to Chilton's aid, waving her arms to keep cars from striking the victim a second time. "Good thing that girl was out here to get the other traffic to go around him," said Donald Simpson, another friend. "I pray for him every minute. Like I said, I've known him for 11 years. I hope he pulls through."
On Tuesday, police released a description of the suspect vehicle, which appears to match the car found at the body shop. "Initially we had put out that it was a 2-door silver or gray vehicle," said Sergeant Manny Marino of Hollywood Police. "Judging by the physical evidence that we covered and based on some witnesses testimonies, they're believing now that it was possibly a Mercedes."
Police will tow the car to be admitted into evidence, so investigators can examine it much closer and see if this is the car they are looking for.
In the meantime, if you have any information on this hit and run, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
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