Charges to be filed

Man struck riding a lawn mower to work at night

DECATUR - A Decatur man was injured in a hit-and-run accident while riding his lawn mower to work in the middle of the night.

According to police reports, Matthew Oberman, 20, of Randall Lane, was riding his lawn mower to work at 11 p.m. on Aug. 28 when he was struck from behind by a car while driving down Stadium Avenue.

Police found Oberman, with bloodied elbows and a road rash on his back, walking down Stadium Avenue, on his way to work at the TNT truck stop on Arkansas Highway 59. They found a riding lawn mower in the ditch along Stadium Avenue, about 40 yards west of the apartments. Oberman refused medical treatment. The mower was severely damaged.

Oberman was knocked off the mower by the car, police reportsstate. The car drove off without stopping. Police also found a silver-colored fender and a headlight which came from a Pontiac Grand Prix, according to reports.

On Aug. 29, police located a car parked on Crestview Avenue in Decatur which matched the description and had damage consistent with the accident. The car was owned by Fredy Moreno, 33, of Crestview Avenue, police reports state. The report noted that Moreno said he was running late when he hit something in the road and did not stop.

According to police reports, Oberman initially did not wish to file a report but allegedly changed his mind after learning a car and driver had been located and that the driver had insurance.

Charges will be fi led against Moreno for leaving the scene of an accident and misdemeanor hit and run. No court date has been set.

News, Pages 1 on 09/11/2013