SUV that hit woman in wheelchair sought

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Investigators are looking for the vehicle that hit a woman in a wheelchair, leaving her with serious injuries, and then drove away.

On January 16 around 1:15 p.m., 61-year-old Marlene Knox was in a motorized wheelchair and in the crosswalk at Appenheimer Street and Fillmore Avenue when she was hit by a vehicle, throwing her from her wheelchair. Police say the vehicle then backed up in an attempt to go around Knox, but ended up hitting her again as she shouted for the driver to stop.

The driver instead took off, dragging the wheelchair underneath his vehicle. Police are looking for the public's help in identifying the vehicle. The black Dodge Durango made sometime between 2004 and 2009 has front end damage after the crash and fled east on Appenheimer.

Knox had been returning from bible school at Mt. Olive Church when she was hit. She spent two weeks at ECMC before being released on Wednesday.

Mt. Olive Pastor William Gillison had visited Knox while she was in the hospital.

"Even though she has her own disabilities, she was already challenged [with a congenital problem with her spine] before she got hit, you would never know it by the smile on her face, always encouraging others," he said.

Mt. Olive Deacon and attorney Ronald Cerconie says Knox had a broken shoulder, arm, wrist, hip, leg and ankle. So far, Knox has had four surgeries.

Police ask that any auto repair shop, salvage yard or parts supplier who may have had contact or worked on a vehicle matching the description since the date of the accident call them with information about the driver. The confidential tipline is 847-2255.