LODI, NJ — Police in Lodi are looking for help identifying the driver of a dark SUV that struck a man and left the scene early in the morning. Investigators say the crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. after the victim had just returned home from work and parked on the street.
According to detectives, the man was crossing the roadway when he was hit from behind. Video reviewed by police shows the impact throwing him to the ground. The driver stopped, spoke briefly with the victim and then drove off at a high rate of speed.
The victim was later taken to a hospital with serious injuries, but police say he is now in stable condition and has been released.
Police say the driver stopped briefly before speeding away
Det. Fausto Caamano of the Lodi Police Department said the vehicle involved appears to have been a Hyundai Tucson SUV. He said the driver, described by investigators as a woman, got out after the collision and briefly spoke with the injured man.
After that exchange, police say she returned to the SUV, accelerated, and swerved around the victim before leaving the area. Investigators believe the driver headed down Passaic Avenue as she fled.
Authorities have not said why the driver left instead of staying at the scene, but they are treating the case as a hit-and-run and continuing to trace the vehicle’s path through video evidence.
Video captured the crash and the SUV leaving the area
Police said surveillance footage has been central to the investigation. The clips show the pedestrian being struck, the SUV stopping, and the driver leaving moments later. Additional cameras also captured the vehicle speeding away from the area.
Investigators have used high-tech equipment to examine the video, but they have not been able to make out the license plate. That has made the vehicle and driver harder to identify, even though police say they have a clear enough view to believe it was a Hyundai Tucson.
The crash also appears to have been seen by other people on the road. Police say another driver was behind the suspect vehicle and stopped after the collision, while a separate motorist traveling in the opposite direction saw the victim lying on the ground.
Witnesses on the road could help identify the suspect
Because the license plate has not been read, police are urging anyone who saw the crash or the SUV leave the area to come forward. Detectives specifically want to hear from the drivers who were near the scene and may have noticed details about the vehicle or the woman behind the wheel.
Caamano said even small details could help move the case forward, including a make, model or description of the driver. Police said tips can be given anonymously.
Investigators are asking members of the public to think back to the early-morning hours and check whether their own dashcams or security cameras may have recorded the vehicle on Passaic Avenue or nearby streets.
Victim walked home before calling for an ambulance
After the driver left, police say the injured man got back on his feet and walked home. From there, he apparently called for an ambulance and was taken to a local hospital.
Officials said his injuries were described as quite serious, though he is now in stable condition. He has since been released from the hospital, according to police.
The sequence has drawn attention because the driver initially stopped and spoke with the victim, then left despite the apparent severity of the crash. That detail, along with the speed of the getaway, is a major focus of the investigation.
How investigators are trying to narrow down the Hyundai Tucson
Police are continuing to compare the available video, trying to match the SUV’s shape and movement with the Hyundai Tucson model they believe was involved. Even without a readable plate, detectives say camera angles and travel patterns may still help them narrow the search.
The department has not said whether it has identified a possible owner or whether the vehicle has visible damage from the collision. For now, the case depends heavily on public tips and the few seconds of footage already collected.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Lodi police. Officers say anonymous tips are accepted, and they hope one witness or camera recording can supply the missing detail that leads to the driver.
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