"On Sunday, August 3, 2025, early in the morning around 12:45 to 1:00 a.m., just five days after my birthday, I was involved in a hit and run car accident.
I was driving up Wells Avenue, about to turn onto I-80 West. The woman who hit me was coming down Wells and turning onto I-80 East. I had a double green light and was going about 35 miles per hour when she rapidly turned into me, causing us to collide. There was no sense of yielding on her end. I hit more toward the right back side of her vehicle, so my right front side took the most damage. The crash totaled my car. I assumed she would have stayed but that was my own ignorance of believing people would care and admit their wrongdoings.
In the chaos and panic, I was not able to get her license plate or any other identifying information. She came up to my car, seemingly thinking I would pull into the westbound exit, and then she fled the scene heading east.
She was a white woman with brunette hair in a bun or ponytail, appearing to be in her early to mid 30s. She was driving a small SUV, possibly gray or silver, with damage to the right side. She has not yet been identified and is still out there.
A witness, an older white man who was bald and driving a white truck, saw the crash and her fleeing. He even stopped to check on me, but then also left before giving any statement.
I sustained minor injuries to my arms, legs, mouth, and stomach, mostly from the airbags. That sent me to the emergency room, thankfully only burns, bruises and soreness. I am still in the process of trying to find her and dealing with the insurance and financial fallout.
The officers and first responders at the scene were compassionate and helpful, but when I followed up later, I was told there was not much they could do without a license plate. In the frantic moment after the crash, I was unsure whether her car was white or silver, which did not help the search. I was also told there were no traffic cameras that could have captured the incident. I
A nearby Denny’s reportedly heard the crash and may have surveillance footage, but they can only release it if law enforcement requests it. Because I was not seriously injured or killed, I doubt that request will be made.
Only days later, a pedestrian was killed by a hit and run near that same street. Tow truck workers also told me how frequent hit and runs have been lately. These incidents are often among the most unsolved cases, leaving victims like me to handle the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath alone.
I am not sure how much a post like this can accomplish in my situation, but I want to bring awareness. Hit and runs shatter lives and too often go unpunished. My hope is to encourage a stronger community response and maybe one day more victims like me will see justice.
My main reason for this request to post is to just bring awareness to hit and runs and to not let people who do them get away scot free or to show people who do them that they should feel guilty and to own up to their mistakes.”
A Citizen's Forum contribution by Makayla Butler
