Campus PD, Hays PD say quick reporting is critical to catching hit-and-run drivers

According to the Hays Police Department, hit-and-run accidents occur almost weekly, and many go unreported.

Ron Rounkles, HPD lieutenant, has worked 29 years in patrol, 14 years as a patrolman and 7 years as patrol sergeant. According to Rounkles, Hit-and-runs are a common problem.

“It’s more so than what the public probably realizes,” Rounkles said. “I would say maybe every week we get one. And those are just the reported ones.

We hear all the time about those who don’t make police reports.”

Neglecting to report an accident causes complications for the victim because the circumstances of each accident must be carefully examined by law enforcement. The police department must prove the vehicle and the driver are guilty in order to hold a person accountable.

“There’s so many questions to ask,” Rounkles said. “The sooner you report it, the better chance of getting satisfaction out of the investigation, but that report has to be to the correct agency.

Ed Howell, university police chief, explained that while UPD has concurrent jurisdiction with the city and county, accidents are handled depending on location.

“If the accident occurs within the confines of Hays, then we have the Hays Police Department,” Howell said. “If it occurs down here (on campus), then we work on it,”

Cliff Denny, UPD lieutenant, approves all accident reports for the FHSU campus.

Many factors like legal and financial consequences motivate hit-and-run accidents.

“Maybe they don’t have a valid driver’s license,” Rounkles said. “Maybe they don’t want a ticket. There’s just so many reasons why people do that. It’s a question of honesty, being true to the next guy.”

The typical charges in Hays for a suspected hit-and-run driver include leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident, which are traffic misdemeanors with mandatory court appearances. In the city of Hays, leaving the scene of an injury accident calls for jail time and a bond.

In addition, such incidents can result in the suspension of a driver’s license.

Reporting a hit-and-run as soon as possible is imperative because of the investigative measures the incident calls for.

“The report process is about five pages in length when you get in and include the verification of insurance,” Howell said. “That’s submitted to KDOT within 10 days and goes into statistical data. If there is any physical evidence at the scene the officer works at, he may take photographs, he may collect the debris.

The debris may reveal some type of make or model of the vehicle used in the hit-and-run. Then we see if we can match a run vehicle with the struck vehicle.”

Once a suspect vehicle is identified, law enforcement will look for evidence that corresponds with a report.