PHOENIX — A Phoenix man is asking the public for help after he said he was hit by a car on Sunday while running errands.
Manuel Ortiz, a Phoenix resident, said he was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street on his electric scooter on 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye at around 10:30 am.
"I was just trying to get my prescriptions and some lunch meat for my dog," Ortiz said."I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just trying to live my life."
Ortiz explained that he was heading eastbound on Lower Buckeye, he crossed the median on his scooter and as he approached the end of the crosswalk, a white Cadillac that was in the turning lane to go eastbound hit him.
"They clipped the front of my E-Scooter, which then triggered me going into the driver-side fender, which then rolled me up and over the car," Ortiz recalled. "By the time I got up, they were already down the street where I couldn't get a license see [or] who was driving."
Ortiz said he sustained injuries including road rash and a swollen palm, and said the hit-and-run exacerbated a pre-existing back condition.
"I have a crushed disc in my mid back prior to this," Ortiz said. "I have spinal stenosis, so I have medical problems on why I use this scooter. I can't work because of these problems, and that's why I have [it]."
Ortiz said that thankfully there was a witness who saw the incident happen and said another person came out to help address his wounds before paramedics arrived.
Although Ortiz did not see the person driving the car, he recalled some identifying features:
- White Cadillac
- Non-tinted windows
- Light or tan interior
- Arizona license plate
- Yellow cover on the license plate
Ortiz said he hopes that sharing his experience will raise awareness and encourage responsible driving practices.
"You're making a mistake worse by leaving the scene, Ortiz said. "What if I got hit bad enough, or stayed in the hospital or died?"
Ultimately Ortiz said he wants whoever did it to take responsibility.
"I'm not trying to do anything where I want somebody arrested [and goes to jail] for a long time," Ortiz said. "I just want them to pay for my scooter."
Phoenix Police Department said it is currently investigating the collision.
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