Sep 1, 2009 1:20 pm US/Eastern
Good Samaritan Chases Down Bronx Hit-&-Run Suspect
Tow Truck Driver Peter Dinome Engages In High-Speed Chase, Catches 45-Year-Old Michael Fennell
Reporting
Jay Dow
BRONX (CBS) ―
-
-
Tow truck driver Peter Dinome witnessed a hit-and-run in the Bronx Monday night. The quick thinking Good Samaritan chased the suspect in a high-speed pursuit and eventually caught him on Monday, August 31, 2009.
CBS
A hit-and-run accident triggered a wild chase in the Bronx. However, police were not involved in the high-speed pursuit. Instead, it was a Good Samaritan who tracked down the suspect.
Wintesses say the victim had the right of way as he tried to cross the street, and was left for dead as the driver just kept on going. Tuesday afternoon, the victim remains in serious condition at Jacobi Hospital.
"The pedestrian was crossing the street, he had the right of way," said witness Peter Dinome.
Were it not for the quick action of Dinome, it's very possible police might never have caught up with the accused hit-and-run driver of a Nissan Maxima sedan, identified as 45-year-old Michael Fennell of the Bronx.
"My first instinct was to chase after the guy," said tow truck driver Dinome.
His next move? He put his truck in drive and engaged in a wild, dangerous chase.
"As I started to chase him he took me down Gun Hill Road. After I got down Gun Hill Road, I swung a u-turn. He took me back onto 95-South, down Pelham Parkway West, through the grass at 80mph. I'm doing 100 down the one way blocks. After that I lost him on Crosby Avenue, I'm coming back to where it happend, and there he comes running a red light. I stopped him there and I dragged him out of the car."
Dinome's actions ultimately led to an arrest.
"He said 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' He started crying and he wouldn't stop crying," added Dinome.
Police say that the accused hit-and-run driver, Fennel, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
World's Most Useless Facts
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments