A North Plymouth man was severely injured Saturday evening after being struck by a driver who allegedly stopped briefly before fleeing the scene.
The victim, a 54-year-old North Plymouth man who has not been named by police, was treated at the scene before being MedFlighted to a Boston hospital with serious injuries, including possible skull and body fractures.
After Plymouth police posted an alert on social media, the driver turned himself in.
Francis Kelly, 42, of Plymouth, faces charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury.
According to police, the victim was in a crosswalk on Court Street in North Plymouth at about 6:30 p.m. when Kelly, driving a white van, allegedly struck him. The victim was thrown onto the sidewalk, police said.
Kelly was driving around the speed limit, which is 30 mph, police said.
A witness told police that after striking the victim, Kelly got out his van briefly and then got back in and drove off — without checking on the victim.
The victim is currently listed in stable condition at a Boston hospital, but “faces a long road to recovery,” police wrote on Facebook.
They were able to identify Kelly and his van after officers and detectives interviewed witnesses and residents, responding to the police department’s Facebook post, provided tips, and shared video.
Kelly, who was not arrested, has been ordered to appear at a clerk’s hearing in Plymouth District Court later this week. The clerk will decide whether to move forward with the charges, both of which are misdemeanors, police said.
The more serious charge — leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury —carries a potential sentence, if convicted, of two years in jail.
“We would like to sincerely thank the public for the tips provided and for sharing surveillance footage that proved critical to this investigation,” wrote Plymouth police on their Facebook page. “Incidents like this underscore the strength of community cooperation in supporting victims and ensuring accountability.”
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.