Second Hit And Run Fatality In Oak Lawn In Three Weeks
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Dallas Police are making a familiar petition for a hit-and-run driver to come forward: Another man has been killed in the Oak Lawn area, three blocks from where a 55-year-old was killed on Nov. 3.
The most recent incident happened Friday in the 4100 block of Cedar Springs. On Nov. 3, Wayne Priest, 55, was killed after a hit-and-run in the 3800 block of Cedar Springs.
Police have not identified the recent victim. But family and friends say the man is Edward Lee King, a 61-year-old free spirit known to friends and family as Joe.
"He was a happy person all the time," Ray Paige said.
Paige knew King as his older brother.
"My brother was probably one of the most kindest persons you ever want to meet," Paige said.
Paige's brother died Friday night on the street, near Cedar Springs and Knight, when a driver hit him and kept going, he said.
"They say Black Friday? Well, this is a real Black Friday because he died on Black Friday," King's friend Nella Richey said.
Police have surveillance video from a nearby building. But it's dark and grainy, nearly imperceptible.
So, they're asking the public for help. Richey is asking too.
"You can't get closure until you find out what happened. And you're out there," she said, referring to the driver. "I need you to know that man died. And, if you have any kind of heart, you do the right thing."
King worked part time Amico's Pizza, right across the street from where he was hit.
"He just, just helped out," said John Campisi, his employer. "I mean he'd do anything you want. He'd go to the store for me. Helped clean."
It was one of King's myriad jobs in an area where many people say they knew him.
"He'll be missed. He will be missed," Campisi said.
"Do the right thing. That's what we're asking," Richey said.
Police say the vehicle that hit Joe was either a dark colored Land Rover or Range Rover with wraparound taillights. It sped away and turned left down Throckmorton.
Police say Priest, the first hit-and-run victim, died Nov. 3 after a 4-door maroon vehicle hit him at about 9 p.m.
He was walking to a nearby Walgreens store to pick up a prescription and was hit crossing an unlit crosswalk at 3850 Cedar Springs, police say.
The driver of that vehicle never stopped and has not been identified.
If anyone has information about either hit and run, Dallas Police say to call detectives at 214.670.5817.
