The Lubbock Police Department is reminding drivers of the steep consequences of leaving the scene of a crash after a hit-and-run last month left a man seriously injured.
On Aug. 19, 44-year-old Todd Boicourt was riding an electric bike near Idalou Road and the Loop when police say he was struck by a red pickup truck. Boicourt was taken to University Medical Center with serious injuries. The suspect has not been located.
Lt. Brady Cross with LPD’s Major Crash Unit said staying on scene and calling for help can make a dramatic difference in how a case is handled.
“If you’re involved in a collision but you stay on scene and report it, it certainly changes things dramatically,” Cross said.
He explained that a driver who remains at the scene might only face a citation, while someone who flees a crash involving serious injury could be charged with failure to stop and render aid — a third-degree felony.
“You’re looking at the charge of fail to stop and render aid, which is a third-degree felony in this case,” Cross said. “A far cry from just being involved in a traffic accident.”
Cross said many drivers leave because they panic or are impaired, but those decisions don’t erase what happened.
“They hit a person and that person was injured badly,” Cross said. “Regardless of what motivated them to run, whether it was fear or something else, it just really doesn’t matter.”
Police say the law is clear — drivers involved in crashes must stop, provide information and call for help.
Anyone with information about the Aug. 19 crash is asked to call Detective McPherson at (806)-775-2762.
