RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- Richmond police are searching for a second hit-and-run driver in less than a month after a 51-year-old man was fatally struck along Hull Street Saturday.
Jose Palucho said something made him warn his roommate, Armando Ramos, before his friend set off for a nearby bar Friday night. [RELATED: Police ID man killed in Hull Street hit-and-run]
"Before he go to the bar, I tell him, "Armando, be careful. Don't drink too much,'" Palucho said. "I never tell him before. I don't know why did I tell him this time."
Early Saturday morning, police notified Palucho that someone fatally struck his friend near the busy intersection of Hull street and Warwick Road -- just a block away from where Ramos lived.
Palucho is praying that someone will come forward and help police find the person who killed his friend.
"I want the police to catch the guy who hurt him because he was supposed to stop," said Palucho.
Police are asking neighbors to come forward to help find the driver. While the largely Hispanic population has proven to be a challenge for police in the past, Lieutenant Darrell Goins said that is changing.
"We try to do a lot of different things in the Spanish-speaking community to try to dispel a lot of the myths and try to bridge the trust because a lot of times our Hispanic community is not as trusting of the police," Goins said.
Police are warning pedestrians to always use the crosswalk and walk in groups, especially at night.
An area business owner said Hull Street is too dangerous for pedestrians.
"If it's really late, then no. Once you get past this intersection, you can't see very well," said Brenda Clemons, a co-owner of Departure Bike Works. "People need to be aware of the fact that if they're walking at night. They need to be visible and not wear dark clothes."
If you have information about the hit-and-run accident that could help police, call Crimestoppers at 804-780-1000 or the Hispanic hotline at 804-239-4209. A Spanish-speaking officer will be available to help.
