Rochester, NY (May 5, 2026) – A 46-year-old man in a wheelchair was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene on Monday, May 4, on Chili Avenue near Genesee Park Boulevard in Rochester’s 19th Ward. The incident was reported at approximately 10:30 p.m.
The man was hit by an eastbound black SUV, which did not stop after the collision. Emergency units responded and took the man to a nearby hospital for evaluation. He had no visible injuries at the scene.
Responding officers determined that the victim was not in the crosswalk at the time of the crash. No further details about the SUV or its driver have been confirmed.
The incident remains under investigation, and more details will be released as they become available. Our thoughts are with the man as he is evaluated and receives any care he may need.
What Should People Know About Hit-and-Run Crashes in New York State?
Hit-and-run crashes in New York are taken seriously under state law, and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a criminal offense. Drivers are legally required to stop, provide their information, and render aid when someone is hurt. Failing to do so can result in significant criminal penalties, separate from any traffic violations that may have contributed to the crash.
For victims, the process after a hit-and-run can be more complicated than a standard collision because the at-fault driver is not immediately identified. New York City records roughly 46,000 hit-and-run incidents per year, up 26% from historical averages, with around 5,000 people injured in those crashes annually. The NYPD arrest rate for hit-and-runs has fallen from 8.6% in 2018 to just 3.6% in 2023, meaning more than 96% of drivers who flee face no criminal consequences.
In New York, uninsured motorist coverage may help cover costs when a driver flees and is never found. Witness accounts, surveillance footage, and physical evidence from the scene are often key to identifying a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run. Investigators identified the driver in roughly half of all fatal hit-and-run cases during a recent study period, underscoring how critical evidence gathered at the scene can be for victims seeking accountability.
