Hit and Run leaves a Man Dead on I-20

Meridian police are looking for a hit-and-run driver that left a pedestrian dead near highway I-20. Authorities say what’s going to solve the case is the evidence collected and the public’s help.

Meridian police are looking for the driver who killed a man last night in a hit and run incident. It happened off of I-20 at one of the busiest parts of the interstate with oncoming traffic by ramp 153. The victim, 58-year-old William C. Sullivan from Petal, MS, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Around 7:01 P.M. we received a call of a person crossing I-20 near the 153-mile marker. While the officer was on route, the dispatcher got a call that they needed a welfare check on a male in the road near the on-ramp of 153”, stated MPD Sgt. Heather Luebbers. “We believe he was crossing to get to the other side because he had food with him from the restaurants back over to his hotel”

MDOT statistics show that on average 70% of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-Intersections. MPD’s reconstruction team is still investigating the incident. From the evidence gathered at the scene, they know that the vehicle was a truck or SUV. The specific make and model of the vehicle is still unknown.

“Our reconstruction team has already been out this morning actively checking with local businesses for camera footage. They’ve gone by the dealerships checking for parts that they’ve found. We do know that the truck is going to be missing the lens on the right headlight. It should also be missing the glass part of the mirror on the passenger side”

What’s going to solve the case police say is evidence that the reconstruction team gathers and the public’s help.

“This case is solved just like any other case. We gather evidence, try to find any kind of surveillance footage, witness statements if we have any. All those things we take just like any other crime”, said Luebbers. “We’re asking for the public's help if anyone was traveling in the area at that time frame and saw maybe a truck hit brakes suddenly or driving at any kind of erratic form. Even if it's just color, the slightest bit of information could help solve the case”

If you have any information that may lead to an arrest, call the Meridian Police Department at (601)-485-1894