A Lewiston man turned himself in Wednesday morning after an accident in the 900 block of Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda killed a pedestrian.
Police say James Edel, 53 was hit and killed on February 27 after George Spizzirri Jr., 55, ran him over and left Edel lying in the road.
Spizzirri was charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury incident resulting in death without reporting.
Police say after hitting Edel, Spizzarri continued driving northeast on Erie Avenue. Officers followed an oil leak that lead them to a car wash on Niagara Falls Boulevard. Video surveillance shows Spizzarri checking the damage to his car and driving away towards his home in Lewiston.
Police say his car then began to overheat due to the damage, causing him to pull over into the 7-Eleven at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Ward Road.
Shortly after, Spizzarri called the North Tonawanda Police Department to report having hit something on Erie Avenue. He later admitted it may have been a person, police say.
Officers are not sure if Edel was hit by another car before being run over.
Spizzirri was arrested Wednesday morning after turning himself in and posted bail, according to police. he is due back in court on April 17.
Officers say he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and no other charges are pending against him.
