Hit and Run Driver Kills Pedestrian Crossing the Street

On July 21, 2011, 64 year old James Curry was hit by a truck as he crossed the street with a shopping cart to recycle cans.

According to Channel 12 News, WRDW, Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for 29 year old Ricky Lavon Oliphant Jr. in connection with the fatal hit and run accident.  The crash occurred on Olive Road and Cooney Circle.

Witnesses have said that the truck that struck Curry was an older model black Chevy S-10 with a faded blue door.  There were two white males in their 30s inside the truck and one did not have a shirt on.

Several days after the crash, Curry died at Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center as a result of the traumatic injuries he sustained in the accident.

Oliphant is now wanted for this hit and run accident.

Ricky Lavon Oliphant Jr. was released on parole from prison on May 13, 2011.  Oliphant was at Jefferson County Correctional Institute since July 2008 for receiving stolen property.  The sentence he received was five years.

Please contact Richmond County Sheriff’s Office if you have any information on Oliphant.

In the United States, around 5,000 pedestrian fatalities occur every year.  Every year, there are about 64,000 injuries to pedestrians that are related to motorist collisions.  Because thousands of pedestrians are injured or killed each year alone, pedestrians should exercise caution when walking places, like to work or to a friend’s house.  Always follow traffic control devices and look both ways before crossing any street or roadway.

And while  auto collisions are a scary possibility that all drivers, and pedestrians, must be aware of, in some situations punitive damages can be imposed on the responsible driver.  Punitive damages are types of damages that are awarded to deter the defendant and other similar positioned people from acting the same way as the defendant did against the injured party.  These damages are not generally awarded to compensate the plaintiff but the injured party does take a portion of these damages as compensation.  Usually, punitive damages are sought where there is wanton and willful disregard for the safety of other drivers and/or pedestrians.  The most notable cases in Georgia relate to hit and run collisions and DUI accidents.

If you have been injured by a drunk driver, or a hit and run vehicle, you may want to contact our Accident Lawyers to see how we can help protect your legal interests. We work tirelessly for our clients to not only maximize their claim, but to also help them put their lives back together.