A man trying to get out of his van and into his wheelchair was struck by a hit-and-run driver and Baltimore County police need your help to find the suspect.
Michael Willies told ABC2 News he's lucky to be alive. He said he was hit and left for dead when he got home from work Sunday night.
"I just got off work after a long day, I get out the van like I usually do," he said.
Police say a dark colored Lexus hit Willies van and wheelchair around 10:30 p.m. Sunday. The car was traveling westbound on Church Lane near Hilmar Road. Willies has lived in the Windsor Mill neighborhood for 10 years, he says it's no stranger to speeding drivers.
"When it was flying up the street, I heard the car behind me but I couldn't turn around," he said.
Willies continued, "Before I knew it, the impact happened so fast my face hit the window on the door and the chair felt like it just disappeared from underneath me."
A violent crime confined Willies to a wheelchair 21 years ago when he was shot and robbed. Willies says he takes precautions to alert other drivers.
"I had plenty of light and reflectors around me to where another vehicle or person could see me."
The car that hit Willies was last seen leaving the scene and continuing westbound on Church Lane. Detectives say the car could have missing front passenger lights, side damage and scuff marks.
"I felt like my life just flashed before again for the second time you see bright lights like it's almost at the end of the tunnel which you don't want to see but that's how I felt," Willies said.
Even with a banged up van, a broken wheelchair and some injuries, Willies refuses to let this incident take his joy, but wants answers.
"Hopefully I'll get the chance to ask them why? Why did they leave the scene? And left me there to basically die," he said.
Baltimore County police are still looking for a suspect in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
