Centralia Police have released the name of a 52-year-old bicyclist seriously injured in a possible hit-and-run crash on 13th Street near Cedar in Centralia early Thursday morning.
Brian Herrin was found lying in the roadway by a passerby at 5:20 a.m., suffering from serious head and leg injuries. His bicycle was found lying nearby. The only damage appeared to be to the mirror, which was found 50 feet away. Herrin was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s in Centralia and later airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Herrin was riding a bicycle westbound on 13th Street when the incident occurred just south of the Centralia Junior High School parking lot.
Investigators have obtained video footage showing a dark-colored four-door passenger car stopped in the area before quickly accelerating away at high speed. Police say it is considered a vehicle of interest in this investigation. Based on the witness vehicles being seen on the video just 90 seconds later, police believe the incident occurred just before the man was discovered at 5:20 am.
The Centralia Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying this vehicle or providing any information that may help investigators. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has surveillance or dash camera footage from the area around the time of the incident, or has information about the vehicle is encouraged to contact the Centralia Police Department at 618-533-7602.
Police say the investigation remains active and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
