FREE ACCESS: Police seek driver in hit-and-run

This is a screen shot provided by the Poplar Bluff Department from a surveillance video of the car authorities are searching for in connection with an injury, hit-and-run accident on July 2 at the intersection of Cole Avenue and Cross Street.

Poplar Bluff authorities continue to investigate a hit-and-run, which occurred earlier this month and left a local man with multiple injuries, including a broken hip.

“We are trying to locate and interview anyone who may have seen or have any knowledge” of the incident, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. July 2 at the intersection of Cole Avenue and Cliff Street, said police Lt. Josh Stewart.

Injured was Donald Ray Warbritton Jr., 50, of Poplar Bluff, Stewart said.

Warbritton’s injuries included a broken left hand, left hip and left leg, Stewart said.

In an email to the Daily American Republic, Warbritton’s niece, Brittany Rogers, said her uncle is “doing great. Even (though) his doctors said he wouldn’t walk without months of physical therapy, he is walking with the help of a walker.”

Rogers said Warbritton still has “a lot of healing to do.”

Authorities learned of Warbritton’s assault at about 6:30 a.m. July 2, Stewart said.

“We got contacted by his sister, who said that she received a phone call saying her brother had been hit,” Stewart said. “(Officers) responded to that area and located him” laying alongside the road.

Stewart said about six hours lapsed between the incident and authorities being notified.

After Warbritton allegedly was struck, he unable to reach his phone to call for help.

“(Warbritton) told officers that he was unable to tell what type of vehicle (had hit him), but believed it was a dark-colored car,” Stewart said. “ ... The victim was unaware of who would do that to him intentionally.’

Officers, he said, located nearby surveillance footage, which was reviewed.

“They discovered that a dark-colored, possibly older Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis ... had purposefully swerved toward the victim, who was walking south, and struck him basically from behind,” Stewart explained.

Officers, Stewart said, have checked several cars in search of the suspect vehicle, but it has not been found at this time.

The vehicle, according to earlier reports, had tinted windows and chrome molding and hubcaps

Anyone with information about Warbritton’s assault is asked to contact the police department at 573-785-5776.