Norfolk man accused of striking pedestrian with car, leaving scene

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Camera footage taken from a police cruiser helped officers locate a suspect accused of striking a pedestrian with their car in northeast Nebraska over the weekend.

On Saturday at 11:04 p.m., a Norfolk Police officer was near 13th Street and Koenigstein Avenue assisting with traffic control after the Big Bang Boom fireworks show.

The officer noticed that a possible accident involving a car and a pedestrian had occurred behind him. He then drove to 13th and Nebraska and determined that a vehicle had struck a female pedestrian while she was attempting to cross the street.

Norfolk Rescue was called to the scene and transported the victim to Faith Regional Hospital with serious injuries.

A witness provided a description of the vehicle. After the initial report, the officer returned to the police station to review his in-car camera footage. The officer was able to identify the suspect vehicle as a tan or gold Mercury Mountaineer and he compiled a list of these vehicles registered in Madison County. In his search, he located a possible suspect vehicle in the 200 block of N. Cottonwood.

In examining the vehicle the officer noticed damage on the front of the hood and license plate holder. Hair strands were recovered from a sharp piece of the frame. The driver had attended the fireworks display and was in the area of the accident, according to Norfolk Police Capt. Michael Bauer. 

The driver was identified as Manuel Larios Ramos, 33, of Norfolk. The officer interviewed him as well as a passenger that had been in the vehicle. At the end of the investigation, Larios Ramos was arrested for leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. He was housed in the Norfolk City Jail and later transferred to the Madison County Jail