COLORADO SPRINGS — A local cyclist said he's spent over a month in the hospital, following a hit and run accident where the driver still has not come forward.
Joseph Manzanares said he was homeless before the accident, and had just gotten back onto his feet with a new apartment and steady job, when he was hit by the car. He said it happened on September 27 around 9 p.m. It was dark out, and Manzanares said he was riding his bicycle down Murray Boulevard heading south, when he approached one of the entrances of the Lionstone Apartment complex. He said he saw a car stopped at the exit, and he also stopped his bicycle. Then, he saw the car roll backwards a touch, and assumed that meant they were letting him pass. However, once he started pedaling, he said the car hit him.
Manzanares said he broke almost all of his ribs, punctured his lungs, displaced his clavicle on the left side, and broke his hip in two places among other injuries. "Whoever did this has got to be made responsible for what they did, and I just hope that they find it within themselves to do the right thing. You know, I'm pretty broke up and probably won't be healed for, it'll take me a year if longer," said Manzanares.
He said the car appeared to be a black SUV or a large truck. He hopes the driver will turn themselves in, or if there were any witnesses, that they will contact the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Manzanares said he cannot afford the medical bills from his hospital stay. There has been a GoFundMe account set up to try and help.
