Nixa police continue search for hit-and-run suspect

NIXA, Mo. - Nixa police continue to look for the suspect of a hit-and-run accident near Main Street and Scott Wayne Drive Monday night. 

OzarksFirst spoke with neighbors in the area, one telling us that he has three small children and is hesitant to let them play outside. 

“We've lived here on Scott Wayne for around six years now, and we have been very, very surprised on how active this road is,” the neighbor told us. 

A bicyclist was crossing Scott Wayne Drive at Main Street around 8 p.m. Monday when they were hit by a vehicle in the crosswalk. 

“The cars, they kind of zip through here,” the neighbor said. 

A new video released from the Nixa Police Department Wednesday shows the vehicle in question and the bicyclist being helped by a witness. 

“Luckily, he's not severely injured, but still, it's a crime that has occurred,” Nixa Officer Tyler Duvall said. 

The driver left the accident when an ambulance was called. Duvall said that decision upgraded the situation from a misdemeanor to a felony. 

“If you're going to be involved in an accident and you got to go, leave that information, that way we can contact you," Duvall explained. “Versus now, what we're dealing with is leaving the scene of an accident, but it's a Class E felony.” 

When Nixa police took to social media asking the community for help identifying the driver, some commenters were curious if the incident was considered a hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident. 

 “Basically it's all in the same deal. It's just different verbiage,” Duvall said. 

The true legal term for the incident is "leaving the scene of accident" while a "hit and run" is more of a civilian term. 

“It's a lot easier to say versus leaving the scene. Leaving the scene is going to be the correct terminology for the law, basically, because it all falls into the same statute,” Duvall said. 

On Jan. 1, the Missouri hands-free law will start being enforced. Duvall says this could prevent accidents like this in the future. 

“Obviously, distracted driving has a lot of things that causes a lot of accidents,” Duvall said. “Don't be distracted and just make sure you're paying attention to your lane travel.” 

Nixa police are still searching for the vehicle and suspect in question and ask anyone with information to call the Nixa police department.