Arrest Made In Fatal Hit And Run On Central Avenue

CHARLOTTE, NC — Police arrested a 64-year-old driver Wednesday, charging him in the case of a fatal hit and run that left a pedestrian dead Wednesday evening.

The Jan. 9 incident occurred around 6 p.m. in the 4500 block of Central Avenue when the male victim, who has not yet been identified by police, was crossing the four-lane roadway when he was struck by a 1998 Toyota Avalon driven by Ngongo Elongo Musafiri, according to a police report.

According to police accounts, the victim was struck in the right lane of west-bound lanes on Central Avenue and “came to a final resting position in the roadway against the curb.”

Responding police officers found the victim unresponsive in the roadway, and he was transported to Atrium Health Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“The driver of the suspect vehicle did not stop or call 911. A witness to the crash attempted to follow the suspect vehicle but was unable to safely identify the location of the suspect vehicle,” a CMPD report said.

Using crash debris found on the scene as well as video footage, CMPD investigators were able to identify the suspect vehicle, which was later located at an apartment complex located at 4361 Central Avenue.

Musafiri was arrested and charged with felony hit and run and the Toyota he was driving at the time of the crash was taken by police as evidence.

Speed and alcohol are not thought to be contributing factors in the crash, police said.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing and CMPD asks that anyone with information about the incident contact the major crash investigations unit at 704-432-2169, ext. 4.

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Photo courtesy of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office