Man on bicycle killed in Durham’s 3rd fatal hit-and-run crash in May
Durham police are looking for the driver they say fatally struck a 53-year-old man on a bicycle Monday night on Ellis Road.
It was was the city’s third fatal hit-and-run collision this month.
Frederick Howell of Durham was riding his bicycle south in the 800 block of Ellis Road before 10 p.m. when he was struck from behind by an unidentified vehicle, police said in a news release. The driver fled the scene.
Emergency Medical Services workers took Howell to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as a dark or black Polaris Razor or similar off road “side-by-side” vehicle with reflective wording on the back of it. It was last seen traveling south on Ellis Road near Riddle Road.
Speed appears to be a factor in this crash, according to the news release.
3rd fatal hit-and-run in May
This is the third fatal hit-and-run crash the Durham Police Department has investigated this month.
▪ On May 4, Timothy Wayne Wright, 35, was crossing North Miami Boulevard near Raynor Street when he was struck by a dark blue Jeep Grand Cherokee that fled the scene. Joshua Antoine Alston, 38, of Durham was charged with involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by vehicle, felony hit-and-run resulting in death, reckless driving, driving while license revoked for impaired revocation, and exceeding a safe speed in connection with this crash.
▪ On May 5, Phillip Farrington, 28, was struck in the 2400 block of North Roxboro Street by a 2014 Lexus sedan that fled the scene. Nicole Lee, 22, of Durham was charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in death, no operator’s license, and operating a motor vehicle with no insurance in connection with this crash.
Anyone with any information about Monday’s crash is asked to call Investigator G. Munter at 919-560-4935 extension 29448. You can also call CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200 or online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 11:20 AM.