Driver hits homeless man, leaves him on street in Griffin, police say

GRIFFIN, Georgia. – A store surveillance camera captured the shocking moment a hit-and-run driver struck a homeless man near the intersection of North Hill Street and West Broad Street in Griffin Monday morning.

In the video, the victim can be seen crossing the street when she trips and falls, dropping her belongings. As he was picking them up, the truck started to run over him.

The Georgia State Patrol is handling the investigation. Police returned to the scene Monday afternoon to collect additional evidence.

A friend of the victim spoke to FOX 5 Atlanta.

“He’s a wonderful person, he’ll give you his shirt off his back and help everyone,” Patricia Hamilton told FOX 5’s Deidra Dukes. Hamilton was in the area when he was hit.

“I saw the ambulance, and they were loading him on a stretcher and everything,” she said. “It scared me very much. I thought he was dead.”

Medics rushed the man to an area hospital.

Hamilton wondered how such a thing could happen.

“I don’t know who (or) what was wrong with them, because any sane person would have at least slammed on the brakes or something,” Hamilton said. “I never heard the car scream or anything, you know, I guess they were just half asleep, because it was so early in the morning, and they hit him and beat him just hit it all the way, you know, up there.”

The victim suffered significant injuries. Anyone with information on the case can contact the Georgia State Patrol.