SAN ANTONIO – The victim of a South Side hit-and-run who was released from the hospital Saturday said he wants the driver who hit him caught before it happens to someone else.
"I can't take a deep breath," 29-year-old Christopher Mello said. "My stomach actually pushes up against my lungs."
With two fractured ribs and a rolled ankle, the father of a 12-year-old daughter will also need emotional healing as he thinks of how bad the hit-and-run crash could have been.
"I don't want nobody to lose their life. It's unfortunate enough that I'm in this pain, but I want to be the only one," Mello said.
At about 6 a.m. Friday, Mello was riding his bike to work when he came to the intersection of East Southcross Boulevard and South Hackberry Street. He said he was going through the intersection when the light turned green and an oncoming silver four-door sedan made a left turn and didn't yield.
Mello collided and flew across the hood.
"I could not move at all. I could barely breathe. It knocked the wind out of me," Mello said.
The driver might not have seen the bicyclist who was wearing blue and black clothing, but Mello said the intersection is well-lit. Mello's backpack also has reflective material.
The driver didn't stop to render aid.
"I didn't know how bad the injuries were. I didn't know if there was a vehicle that was gonna’ come by and hit me while I was laying in the middle of the street," Mello said.
Mello ended up in the emergency room, and while recovering he is waiting for the suspect to answer for what he or she did.
"It wasn't a dog you hit, it was a human being," Mello said.