FAYETTEVILLE — The victim of a hit-and-run accident earlier this month died Friday at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo., according to Police Sgt. Craig Stout.
Gary Todd O’Neil, 52, was struck by a 2003 Ford Taurus on July 1 while crossing Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, between Sand Avenue and Lewis Avenue.
Police arrested the driver, Maurice Deshaun Evans, 22, in connection with felony leaving the scene of an accident with injury, driving on a suspended or canceled license and no proof of insurance.
Investigators said a tip from a concerned citizen led officers to find Evans’ car parked at his apartment, 1153 W. End, a few days after the accident.
Stout said Monday he doesn’t expect the charges against Evans to change because the incident showed no intention to kill O’Neil or any reckless driving.
Investigators said Evans initially denied hitting O’Neil and provided a false alibi. Police said he later admitted to hitting O’Neil and driving away. Evans told police he left because he knew he would go to jail for killing a man and he was still paying fines for previous tickets, according to the report.
According to Stout, Evans received a warning June 17 for driving left of center and for driving on a suspended license. On June 30, he received a citation for careless driving, Stout said. Evans was released from the Washington County Detention Center on bond earlier this month.