Father comatose, daughter recovering after hit-and-run incident in West Elizabeth
WEST ELIZABETH, Pa. (KDKA) - A father is recovering from a brain bleed after a car struck him and his daughter while riding a scooter in West Elizabeth Friday night. He remains in the hospital in a coma, on a ventilator, as police urge the public to help them in what they're calling a hit-and-run.
Surveillance video shows the moment a black car strikes a dad and a daughter on a mini electric scooter at 6th and Robinson, causing them to go flying, the dad coming to a stop as his head hits a curb.
Elizabeth Borough Police Chief William Sombo said it happened just before 6:30 p.m.
"They get thrown about 25-30 feet," Sombo said. "I was like shocked at first."
The video also captured the 36-year-old father, identified by family members as Nicholas Shoemaker, putting a helmet on his three-year-old daughter. Then, they drove off.
Police said neither Shoemaker nor a black Buick Encore stopped at stop signs, and they crashed in the intersection.
You see the woman, believed to be in her 60s or 70s, stop her car and get out to talk to Shoemaker.
A male witness also stayed on the scene. He told police the woman wanted to call 911, but Shoemaker was adamant no one contacted police, EMS, or the fire department. The witness said Shoemaker had a big gash on his head but refused to go to the hospital. Instead, the witness walked Shoemaker and his daughter home with the scooter, and the woman drove away.
Police didn't know what happened until Saturday when an on-duty officer started talking to a man at a farmer's market.
"It leads to this individual asking my officer, 'How is the gentleman that got hit last night on the accident?' and he says, 'What are you talking about?'" Sombo said.
The man then shows the officer the video.
"It's concerning that no one called the police," Sombo said.
Sombo said no matter what, according to the vehicle code, the driver needed to contact authorities, especially now that Shoemaker is in the hospital at Allegheny General.
"Attended or unattended vehicle, a person, property, it doesn't matter, when you hit something with your vehicle in the State of Pennsylvania, you have to report it," Sombo said. "We need to have answers. If this individual should happen to pass away, I've got nothing."
The family told KDKA that Shoemaker went to the hospital about an hour and a half after the incident. It's unclear how much damage was done to his brain. His daughter was checked out by doctors and is in great condition.
Police describe the vehicle as a Black Buick encore that should have damage to the front bumper and possibly the hood area. The driver is a woman believed to be in her 60s and 70s with light-colored hair.
The family did not want to go on camera, but urge you if you recognize this car or the driver to call Elizabeth Borough police at (412) 384-7771.
