2 people hit by car

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 26, 2016

LPD: Driver may have been distracted

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

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LaGRANGE — Two men were hit by a Jeep about 6 p.m. Saturday while walking through the parking lot of LaGrange College’s Price Theatre at 300 Forrest Ave.

LaGrange police said when they arrived on scene, one of the men was lying on the ground complaining of leg and back injuries. He was transported to WellStar West Georgia Medical Center for treatment.

The second victim was not seriously hurt, according to police.

Both pedestrians told officers they were walking through the parking lot when the driver in a gray Jeep Wrangler struck them from behind. One of the victims told police the driver immediately stopped, ran over to him and allegedly said, “When I pulled in, I dropped my head for just a moment and ‘boom.’”

The driver told police he was pulling into the parking lot of the theater and “before he knew it, he struck the two” pedestrians, according to a police report.

The Jeep had damage to the front brush guard and grill, and an indentation on its hood from the impact with one of the victims where he rolled up on the vehicle before being thrown several feet when the driver hit the brakes, the report states.

While looking inside the Jeep, officers noticed an unwrapped sandwich on the driver’s side floor and believe the motorist was eating while driving, diverting his attention from the pedestrians.

The driver was not cited for the incident since the accident happened on private property, according to police.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.