FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 9, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose Police Seek Public’s Assistance after Hit-and-Run Leaves 85-Year-Old Man with Life-Threatening Injuries

MELROSE — Chief Michael L. Lyle and the Melrose Police Department are seeking the public’s help after an elderly resident, who was out for his morning walk, was struck by a wrong-way driver.

Melrose Police and Fire responded at 5:45 a.m. to Herbert Street for a report of a person struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, rescuers found an 85-year-old Melrose man laying in the roadway. The victim was taken to a Boston hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.

An investigation indicates that the resident was out for a walk when he was struck from behind and dragged by a motor vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene.

Herbert Street is a narrow one-way side street that runs about 350 feet near St. Mary’s Parish between Berwick and Myrtle streets. The investigation indicates that the suspect vehicle was driving the wrong way down the street.

The suspect vehicle will have front end damage, likely on the passenger’s side. The vehicle was likely headed south on Berwick Street, toward West Wyoming Avenue, Main Street, or Grove Street.

Chief Lyle is alerting area auto repair and auto body shops and is asking members of the public to come forward if they saw anything in the area.

“This is is a particularly heinous hit-and-run that left a resident with traumatic injuries that are life-threatening,” Chief Lyle said. “The person who did this knows what they did. I encourage the driver to come forward, and anyone who might have seen or heard something between 5:30-5:45 this morning is urgently asked to call the Melrose Police Department.”

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Melrose Police Sgt. Jon Goc at 781-665-1212.

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