Police seek info after man struck by motorist on West River Dr.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated following an arrest in this case.

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point police are investigating a hit and run that reportedly left one man critical condition on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to County Hwy. HH and West River Dr. at 4:55 p.m. on March 5.

Upon arrival, police found an unresponsive 63-year-old man in a westside ditch about .2 miles north of County Hwy. HH, according to Lt. Joe Johnson from SPPD.

A passing pedestrian located the man, who was wearing a blue jacket with white lines, a gray long-sleeve shirt, gray pants, and brown shoes.

A green and white baseball hat and a green stocking cap were also located at the scene and believed to have been worn by the victim.

The man was suffering from “serious injuries,” Johnson said, and paramedics from the Stevens Point Fire Department were summoned to the scene. The man was alone and there was no one else around, he said.

The man was taken to the Stevens Point Municipal Airport by ambulance, where a medical helicopter airlifted him to a trauma center. He remains in critical condition.

Based on evidence at the scene and the injuries the victim sustained, detectives believe the victim was likely struck by a vehicle driving south on West River Dr., while he was walking. The vehicle then left the area after the collision.

The victim was known to routinely walk in the area and would commonly leave his residence around 1-1:30 p.m., Johnson said.

The case remains under investigation.

SPPD is looking for any information about this incident. Anyone with information about the vehicle that might have struck the man, believes they may have seen the victim walking on this date, or if they have surveillance cameras that cover the road in their neighborhood or on the dash of their vehicle and they traveled this road on this date, please contact the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center 715-346-1503.