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Driver arrested after hit and run injures Arkansas police chief
April 28, 2012 08:22:15 PM
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JESSICA McCARTHY / News Herald Writer
@PCNHJessica
Video:
Click for a link to a video of the Lowell, Ark., press conference
PANAMA CITY BEACH — A hit and run vehicle crash Friday night in Panama City Beach left a police chief from Arkansas in critical condition.
It was one of two hit and run vehicle crashes within about an hour in Panama City Beach that left two people injured.
According to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol, Friday about 8:30 p.m., Jimmy J. Christo Jr., 52, of Panama City Beach, was turning left in a 1994 Toyota onto Quarts Street from Thomas Drive and drove into the path of a motorcycle driven by Joe Landers, of Lowell, Ark. The collision ejected Landers from his Harley-Davidson.
Landers, the police chief of Lowell, Ark., was not wearing a helmet, FHP said.
Landers was taken to Bay Medical Center, where he was in critical condition Saturday afternoon, FHP said.
FHP said Christo left the scene, but was found later on Hill Top Drive in Panama City Beach. He was arrested and charged with leaving the scene with serious injuries, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. FHP said additional charges are pending.
Lowell Mayor Eldon Long held a press conference Saturday afternoon in Lowell and said there would be a prayer vigil Saturday night at Lowell City Hall.
Lowell Police Detective Sgt. Paul Pillaro said Landers is on life support. He said the chief was riding with a group of motorcyclists, but they were caught at a light, which is why Landers was alone at the time of the collision.
A second hit and run occurred about 9:45 p.m. Friday on North Lagoon Drive near Joan Avenue and resulted in injuries, but no fatalities. FHP investigated that accident, but released no details, including whether the driver who left the scene was found or the condition of the injured person.
The two hit and run incidents came just 24 hours after a hit and run in Callaway left one man dead. Allen Cox, 62, Callaway, was walking along State 22 when he was struck. He later died at a local hospital. The driver, Kenneth Bennett, 30, of Parker, was charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death. His passenger, John Griffin, 29, of Springfield, was charged with accessory after the fact of a vehicular homicide.
It was one of two fatal crashes Thursday night. The other happened on Tyndall Parkway between 7:30 and 8 p.m. when a bicyclist was hit. The victim died at the hospital, but his name still had not been released Saturday.