VALDOSTA — Police say they have located the driver of a car sought in a hit-and-run incident Saturday that killed a Valdosta High School football player.
After police released information Monday about a Dodge Charger sought in the investigation, the owner of such a car came to the police department, a Valdosta Police Department statement said. The vehicle was seized and taken to a local crime lab for processing.
The driver of the vehicle was identified and is fully cooperating with the investigation, the statement said. The driver’s name has not been released.
At about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Samuel Johnson, 16, of Valdosta was walking in the 3900 block of Inner Perimeter Road when he tried to help an injured dog hit by an unknown car; Johnson was then struck and killed by a second vehicle, a Valdosta Police Department statement said. The car that hit Johnson did not stop, police said.
Another person stopped when she saw a dead dog, and while checking on the animal she saw Johnson lying in the grass with a second injured dog. She called E911, and police, firefighters and EMTs responded, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigation showed that the offending vehicle was a dark-colored Dodge Charger with a model year between 2011-2014, the police statement said.
Anyone with information about this case should contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.