The pedestrian who was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver Monday night in Methuen, Massachusetts, has been identified. As police seek the public's help in identifying a suspect, the victim's family and friends continue to grieve.
Tim Lafferty, 57, was struck in the area of 253 Jackson Street at around 8:40 p.m. Monday, according to police. Emergency responders attempted to provided aid at the scene, but Lafferty died from his injuries.
"I'm not really concerned too much with the person that hit him, I just – I'm just sad that I lost my brother," said the victim's brother, Charlie Johnson. "A very selfless guy, he worked his whole life, never took much vacations, never did much for himself but in his free time he was helping other unfortunate people."
Lafferty was in the street while a tow truck was delivering a vehicle to his home when he was hit, according to a woman who lived with him.
"He's a good man and someone hit him and they really should come forward," said the woman who did not provide her name.
The tow truck driver had looked away for just a second and Lafferty was hit, police said.
"He got back inside his vehicle to release and do the unload, he heard a thud, he observed the victim travel through the air and then he immediately called for some assistance," Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said.
A sedan with significant front-end damage has been seized from a home on Brook Street as part of an ongoing investigation.
Solomon is asking residents who live on Jackson Street from Ranger Road to Pleasant Valley Street to review their security cameras for a car driving toward Pleasant Valley Street. Authorities are hoping the surveillance footage will lead to an arrest.
"Our investigation is going to look at several factors, as far as the environment," Methuen Police Capt. Randy Haggar said.
Investigators returned to the scene of the crime Tuesday night. The Massachusetts State Police crash analysis team conducted visibility tests on the roadway and recreated the scene as part of their investigation.
Anyone who has surveillance footage or who has information on the hit-and-run is urged to contact the Methuen Police Department at 978-983-8698.
