Murphy – A local man is enduring a long recovery after he was the victim of a hit-and-run incident near the U.S. 64 West bridge over the Hiwassee River on Feb. 10.
The incident happened after midnight. Police responded to a 911 call at 1:49 a.m. from a motorist who discovered the victim lying along the roadside, Murphy Police Chief Tim Lominac said.
Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services treated the victim, a 42-year-old white man, then took him to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Peachtree for treatment. An attempt to airlift him to a trauma center was initially thwarted by weather. His identity was unknown at that time.
Murphy police are still investigating the incident and the driver of the vehicle is unknown. Murphy police Officer Parker Southard said there was no residual evidence at the scene and scant other evidence.
The victim, Jonathan Bryson, was identified to the Cherokee Scout by his sister Mindy Jordan and confirmed by Officer Southard.
“My brother Jonathan Bryson, a lifelong resident of Cherokee County, was hit by a car as a pedestrian,” she said.
“My brother has been homeless for the last 4-5 years and struggling with substance abuse as well. I know all too well what those consequences and conditions look like and feel like, as I am recovering from substance abuse and homelessness myself.
“My brother was sent to Erlanger in Chattanooga (Tenn.), where he spent five days in the trauma ICU with a broken femur that had to be completely replaced with hardware, fractured vertebrae in his lumbar spine, a fractured arm and sternum, and a laceration to his liver,” Jordan said.
“From what I understand, the driver fled and left my little brother in the road face down to die. He flatlined several times before being stabilized and sent to the OR for emergency surgery on his femur.
“He was admitted as a ‘John Doe’ until extubated and was able to tell them his name and date of birth so they could find his identity in the computer. Jon doesn’t have an ID, but most of the local law enforcement were familiar with who he is.
“My brother was discharged from Erlanger after many days with them,” she added. “We were able to get him into treatment for substance abuse, and have high hopes for him and the team of support he has backing him! At this point, we just want to find out what happened to my brother. He’s lucky to be alive.”
Jordan wants to know what she can do “to help bring the person who hit him with their car and left him on his face in the road to justice?”
Jordan said Friday her brother was in treatment for substance abuse in Asheville.
“He is making a strong recovery and has shown a lot of courage these past few weeks. The trauma from it is still very real for him. But we will get through this,” she said.
Police have little to go on in their investigation. Bryson was unable to provide much information about the incident, there were no other witnesses, there are no surveillance cameras in the vicinity and the impact left no traces of evidence such as paint, plastic, glass or metal that police could use to track down the vehicle.
Anyone who knows about a vehicle with unexplained damage on Feb. 10, or who has any other information, can contact the Murphy Police Department at 828-837-2214 or stop by at 498 Hill St. Ask for Southard or Detective Jason Murphy.