The Search Continues For A Vehicle Involved In A Deadly Hit and Run

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The search for the vehicle involved in a deadly hit and run investigation continues in Lowndes County.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol says the victim is an 18-year old and they believe the vehicle responsible may have noticeable damage.

It happened Saturday night on Highway 373.

The teen was taken to Golden Triangle Baptist Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the coroner.

Now, investigators are looking for the person responsible and the car he or she was driving that ended a young life.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop G Sgt. Derrick Beckom says Dewilliam Zerrell Binion, 18, was struck on Highway 373, north of Noblin Road in Columbus.

When troopers got to the scene, they found the teen, but not the vehicle that hit him.

“We try to depend on the public to give us help with that by calling in, giving tips of anything that they may have seen, or heard, or a vehicle that they may see with damage that might lead to us figuring out who caused the accident.”

Columbus Crime Lab Director Austin Shepherd says hit and run cases have two crime scenes.

The site where it happened and the vehicle.

So when you’re missing one of the two, how do you get the whole picture?

“There’s a wide assortment of evidence that can be used and a lot of times, it’s not a matter of if you’re going to catch the person, it’s just when, how long its going to take.”

Investigators rely on clues left behind at the crash site.

“Whatever piece of evidence that they find from that vehicle, our crash team can determine if that was a left front fender, or a right rear, or anything like that.”

Beckom says the vehicle they’re looking for has possible damage to the front right.

But what makes investigators believe that?

“It could be simply something found on scene that would indicate that it was the right side of the vehicle. It could be just the location of where the impact occurred, or it could be something that they found on the victim themselves, that could lead them to believe that.”

On top of looking for car parts, tire marks also play a big role.

“Identifying the tire itself can give you a good indication of what you’re dealing with, as well, and then of course, if you do have an individual, the marks left behind on the body a lot of times will give us clues, as well as, to the height of the vehicle may be, or possibly even the make of the vehicle.”

Shepherd says the state crime lab helps investigate evidence from hit and run cases.

If you have any information on this investigation call the MHP Office at 662-323-5314.