FORT SMITH, Ark. — On Sept. 7, a 69-year-old woman took her dog for a walk when she was severely injured in a hit-and-run, according to Fort Smith police. Now, her concerned neighbors are speaking out about her condition and their desire for answers.
The Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) said that a vehicle fled after hitting the woman on in the 1600-1700 block of South 21st Street, sometime between 5:17 a.m. and 5:40 a.m.
The woman was found in a driveway with serious injuries, taken to a nearby hospital and eventually transferred to an out-of-area hospital for "further treatment," FSPD said.
While expected to recover, the event has left her friends and neighbors shaken.
Police have not released the identity of the victim, but loved ones and neighbors know her as Linda.
Shirley Russell, a close friend, said the incident happened when Linda was taking her dog for a walk early Saturday morning.
"She loves her little dog, and she walks 20,000 steps a day, taking the dog for a walk and it keeps her mobile," Russell said. "It's not daylight at 5:00 a.m. but she has a flashlight and a reflector vest on, and still walks."
Russell said Linda was in critical condition and they airlifted her to UAMS in Little Rock. She said Linda is expected to recover.
"[She had] broken ribs, a collapsed lung, broken arm, broken leg, broken ankles, just was broken and bruised. It's unreal," Russell said. "She is a really tough lady. She really is, and she's just a precious person."
Russell added that she was in shock all day after hearing of the incident.
"I can't imagine anybody doing it, it's something unthinkable," Russell said.
David Cobb, a neighbor of Linda's, said she's very kind and sweet.
No stranger to seeing Linda on her walks around the neighborhood with her dog Sally Mae, and occasionally seeing each other at yoga class, Cobb said hearing she had been hurt so badly made him upset.
"I was angry that somebody could hit her, she always wore a bright orange or reddish looking vest," Cobb said.
Cobb adds that Linda was very safety conscious, and that where she got hit is a safety concern for him because there are no sidewalks there.
"People just fly up and down South 21st here," Cobb said. "I will ride over to Creekmore Park and walk through the park because I just don't really feel safe walking around here."
Scott Bartholomew, another neighbor, said Linda was faithful to her daily walks, rain or shine.
"I just think of her as the lady that walks her dog in the neighborhood faithfully, like every day, good weather or bad weather," Bartholomew said.
The whole neighborhood of Park Hill has come together trying to get some answers. Bartholomew has been trying to help with his surveillance camera from his porch.
"I thought, well, I'll do whatever I can in terms of just getting some information out there," Bartholomew said.
Linda has a long road of recovery ahead of her. In the meantime, the whole neighborhood is hoping to see their sweet neighbor walking little Sally Mae again in the near future.
FSPD said on Sept. 12 that the investigation rages on as officers continue to canvass the area searching for footage and speaking to potential witnesses.
Police did confirm that no new leads were found after interviewing Linda.
The investigation is still active, and police ask anyone with information on this incident to contact them at 479-709-5000.
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