Hit-and-run victim identified

A young member of the Canadian Armed Forces has been identified as the victim of a pedestrian hit and run on Secord Street early Wednesday morning.

Richard Piekarczyk-Vacca, 20, of Hamilton is serving at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick, and was visiting his girlfriend in Thunder Bay when the incident took place. He suffered serious head injuries and remains in hospital.

The incident happened near the John Street intersection at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. City police continue to search for the driver of a dark-coloured Ford F-150, which has damage to its front passenger side. Const. Gordon Snyder says police are appealing to the driver, or the occupants of a silver vehicle that witnesses say might have been following the pick-up, to come forward.

He added that eyewitnesses have described the collision as appearing to be accidental, because the driver slowed down before fleeing the scene along John Street.

Snyder says the victim's family has travelled to Thunder Bay to attend the Regional Hospital where he is now listed in serious condition.