Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 8, 2007 15:01:23 GMT -5
GENESEE COUNTY -- New information has surfaced about a hit and run accident that killed a Mid-Michigan marine last month.
Authorities say Bryan Abbott is the one who hit Ricky Salas Jr. and left the scene, but we have learned there is much more to the story.
A Flint police officer was also involved in the incident. Officer Mitchell Manuel convinced Abbott to flee the scene of the accident.
Salas had returned from Iraq only about eight weeks prior to his death.
Salas was on his way home from a wedding when he lost control of his car. He was walking home on Vienna Township's Farrand Road, when, police say, Abbott hit him while driving his TrailBlazer.
Manuel was driving by and watched the accident happen, according to Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
Manuel turned around and recognized his friend, Abbott. In fact, they were together in a local bar earlier in the evening.
Although the men called 911, Sheriff Pickell says they tried to cover up the accident. Manuel reportedly took the TrailBlazer back to his house, returned to the scene and denied having any knowledge about what happened.
"Manuel...urged him to get out of there," Pickell said. "He made a split-second bad decision. He could have been a good samaritan, but instead, he's a potential criminal."
Abbott has since turned himself in. Both Abbott and Manuel have been booked on charges relating to the accident and have been released on bond.
Manuel is on paid administrative leave from the Flint Police Department.
abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=5015454
Authorities say Bryan Abbott is the one who hit Ricky Salas Jr. and left the scene, but we have learned there is much more to the story.
A Flint police officer was also involved in the incident. Officer Mitchell Manuel convinced Abbott to flee the scene of the accident.
Salas had returned from Iraq only about eight weeks prior to his death.
Salas was on his way home from a wedding when he lost control of his car. He was walking home on Vienna Township's Farrand Road, when, police say, Abbott hit him while driving his TrailBlazer.
Manuel was driving by and watched the accident happen, according to Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
Manuel turned around and recognized his friend, Abbott. In fact, they were together in a local bar earlier in the evening.
Although the men called 911, Sheriff Pickell says they tried to cover up the accident. Manuel reportedly took the TrailBlazer back to his house, returned to the scene and denied having any knowledge about what happened.
"Manuel...urged him to get out of there," Pickell said. "He made a split-second bad decision. He could have been a good samaritan, but instead, he's a potential criminal."
Abbott has since turned himself in. Both Abbott and Manuel have been booked on charges relating to the accident and have been released on bond.
Manuel is on paid administrative leave from the Flint Police Department.
abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=5015454