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Body of man believed killed by hit-and-run driver was later struck by Macon cop car

A 64-year-old Macon man was believed to have been killed by a suspected hit-and-run driver on Mercer University Drive Thursday night.

The dead man’s body was later struck by the patrol car of a Bibb County sheriff’s deputy who was responding to the emergency call.

The victim was identified as Hilton Lucas, who lived on nearby Wellworth Avenue, Coroner Leon Jones said.

The unusual series of events unfolded a few minutes after 9 p.m. when the authorities were informed of a “person down” in the road in the 3100 block of Mercer University Drive. The area lies just northwest of Henderson Stadium near Wellworth and the Mercer-Columbus Road split.

“The pedestrian had been fatally struck ... before deputies arrived,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement sent to local news outlets late Thursday. “It was also reported that a deputy accidentally struck the pedestrian while (deputies) were looking for (the victim).”

The sheriff’s statement went on to say that witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored automobile speeding away from the scene.

This story was originally published May 21, 2021 at 12:40 AM.

Joe Kovac Jr.
The Telegraph
Joe Kovac Jr. writes about local news and features for The Telegraph, with an eye for human-interest stories. Joe is a Warner Robins native and graduate of Warner Robins High. He joined the Telegraph in 1991 after graduating from the University of Georgia. As a Pulliam Fellowship recipient in 1991, Joe worked for the Indianapolis News. His stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and Atlanta Magazine. He has been a Livingston Award finalist and won numerous Georgia Press Association and Georgia Associated Press awards.
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