Salem Police have arrested 49-year-old Donald Crume in connection with the hit and run on Monday that injured a man who is blind and his guide dog.
Stephen Murphy, and his guide dog, Amilia, were hit by a car while crossing Hrubetz Rd SE near Liberty Rd S. The driver fled the scene.
Murphy was transported to Salem Health with serious injuries. Amilia was transported by a family friend to a veterinarian clinic. At this time police believe that both are recovering from their injuries.
Salem Police officers were called by the owner of the vehicle that struck Murphy. The owner stated they had loaned the vehicle to an acquaintance, Donald Crume, who had returned the car with new damage. Crume gave the owner a different reason for the damage, so the owner contacted a repair person to fix it. When the repair person saw the damage they told the owner they believed the vehicle had possibly struck a person. This convinced the owner to do the right thing and call the police to report the suspicious damage.
Based on the damage to the vehicle and evidence that was found at the crash scene, officers were able to determine this was the vehicle used in the hit and run of Murphy and Amilia. Officers located Crume and arrested him for Hit and Run Felony, Hit and Run of an Animal, Assault III and unrelated warrants.