A pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene late Friday night in the Mass. and Cass area of Boston.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's office confirmed one man is dead following the hit-and-run crash around 10:35 p.m. near Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard, a section of the city that has long been affected by homelessness and substance abuse.
The victim was identified Sunday as a 73-year-old man who was walking and pushing a wheelchair when he was struck. His name is being withheld pending family notification, the district attorney said.
According to the DA's office, surveillance video and witness information led to investigators locating a vehicle of interest, and the investigation is continuing.
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Officials did not say if they had identified the driver, in addition to locating the vehicle.
People who witnessed the crash had said that someone with a wheelchair was hit by a car and then dragged several blocks before the driver allegedly took off.
"It was hard," Terrance Rosario said of what he witnessed, getting emotional Saturday night.
Rosario was on the job, working as a security guard at a nearby hotel when he says he saw a man get hit by a car.
"It was just unbelievable," Rosario recalled. "He hit the guy and the guy went underneath the car. The guy was screaming."
Rosario says the victim was pushing a wheelchair, trying to get across the street when he was hit and then dragged down the road.
The district attorney's office said the victim died at the scene.
"You seen him one minute, next minute you didn't see him," Rosario said. "Only thing you hear is yelling, that's it."
Rosario said he tried to run after the car but the driver took off.
"How can you run somebody over and take off? You can't take off. You got to stay," Rosario implored. "It's an accident. Stay, suffer the consequences."
Authorities have not released the victim's name at this time, but Rosario tells NBC10 Boston that the victim is unhoused and he used to see him around often.
Rosario says he even spoke to the man just about an hour before the fatal crash.
"It was 20 degrees last night, it was cold, it was really cold out, and I gave him a couple bucks to get something at McDonald's, and I give him a coffee, and I tell him I'd see him later, take care and stay warm," Rosario said.
Rosario says he's devastated and he hopes police are able to find whoever is responsible.
"I tried to help but there was only so much that I could do," Rosario said. "I'm sorry for his family because I know he had family. The guy was a very nice guy."
Rosario says the vehicle involved suffered heavy front-end damage. The district attorney's office described the vehicle involved is a dark-colored SUV, saying it fled the scene in an unknown direction.
Boston police roped off the scene Friday night as investigators with flashlights looked at debris in the roadway, including the wheelchair, a cane and a grey winter hat. Massachusetts State Police also helped close down roads in the area.
An investigation into what happened is ongoing.
