Arrest Made in Hit and Run That Injured Child

Driver ID'd in Johnston Hit-and-Run Case


Posted: 35 minutes ago
Updated: 11 minutes ago

Four Oaks, N.C. — The driver who hit and killed a Johnston County 7-year-old on Sunday night has been positively identified by the North Carolina Highway Patrol as Hipolito Hernandez, 30, of Parktown Road in Four Oaks.

State troopers said Marcus Lassiter, 7, was trying to cross Heath Road when a car driven by Hernandez struck him on Sunday.

The child’s leg was broken and he had brain damage.

Lassiter's aunt, Mary Ann Cooley, said the family made the decision to remove Marcus from life support, and he died late Monday night.

Hernandez orginally gave a false name to the arresting officers, but troopers who had dealt with him before recgonized him and were able to identify him, highway patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said.

The suspect has used several aliases with different birth dates and middle names, so the highway patrol is hoping federal immigration authorities can help with more definitive information, including whether the man might have been in the country illegally.
Hernandez faces charges of felony hit and run, driving while impaired, driving without a license, driving a stolen car and causing serious injury with a motor vehicle. He remained in jail Wednesday, held on a $1 million bond.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2743805/