Halloween hit-and-run leaves Richmond couple shaken, searching for answers

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond man and his fiancée said they were left confused when a hit-and-run driver crashed into their car in the Church Hill neighborhood on Halloween night.

"I could have been hit by like a bolt of lightning. I wouldn't have known what was going on," said Walter Porter.

Porter said he and his fiancée were on their way to celebrate Halloween, dressed in costumes, when a burgundy Dodge Caliber hit their car head-on at the intersection of East Broad and North 21st streets in Richmond on Friday, Oct. 31.

"The first thing I did was jump out of the car, run around and pry the door open because they were just bent from metal. I couldn't hear in my left ear for about an hour. I had some burns on my arm, some cuts," he said.

He said the crash happened around 7:10 p.m. as the couple was driving west on East Broad Street. According to Porter, after the light at North 21st Street turned green, the Dodge crossed into their lane and hit them.

"From what I heard from a couple of passersby and witnesses afterwards, the guy got out of his car, yelled something, backed up and drove off," Porter said.

The Richmond Police Department said they arrived to find the couple after they were hit by another vehicle. They said Porter reported that the striking vehicle fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Police said there were no reported injuries, and no charges have been filed as of the time of reporting.

The Richmond Police Department continues to investigate the incident and asks anyone with information to call Major Crimes Detective K. Hyde at 804-646-3613.

In the meantime, Porter said he has taken matters into his own hands as he fights for answers.

"I still have the grill [of the Dodge] in my living room," he said. "I went to just about every single resident and business, explained the situation [and] asked for information."