Durham Police Search for Nissan After Man Dies on Highway Shoulder
Investigators recovered a car emblem at the scene where Rakesh Babu Poojari was struck on October 18.
By Chloe Wilson ·
Durham police are asking residents to identify a Nissan sedan or small SUV that struck and killed a man on a highway shoulder in early October. The driver fled the scene after the collision.
The crash occurred around 10 p.m. on October 18 in the southbound lanes of North Carolina Highway 147 near Fayetteville Street. Officers from the department’s Traffic and Crash Team arrived to a report of a fatality. They found a man who had been hit by a vehicle. The victim was identified as Rakesh Babu Poojari, 37. He died at the scene.
Investigators determined that Poojari had pulled his car over to the shoulder because of a flat tire. He stepped out of the vehicle when the suspect car hit him. The investigation found that the suspect vehicle likely sustained damage to the front bumper, hood, and windshield during the impact.
Officers recovered a Nissan emblem at the crash site. Police believe the suspect vehicle is now missing that part. The car is described as a Nissan sedan or small SUV with visible front-end damage. Authorities are urging anyone who saw the vehicle or has information about the crash to contact the Durham police department.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police have not yet identified the driver or recovered the specific vehicle.
Source: WTVD
