TUCSON, Ariz. — South Tucson Police are now searching for the person responsible for hit and run last week on 4th Avenue in the early morning hours.
"I didn't have a chance to think. To do anything," said David Coronado, a PCSD Correctional Officer.
It happened that fast to David Coronado -- in just a few seconds he's lying on the road -- his knee mangled.
"It went down to the bone from the asphalt," he said.
David had simply been riding his bike to work to get in better shape. He turned on 4th Avenue and pedaled down the bike lane on the other side of the road to see the traffic in front -- not behind -- him. That's when he noticed a truck approaching -- the engine revving.
"Where I'm riding starts getting really illuminated by some headlights. At that time I look back and I noticed a truck -- a white truck -- F-150 that I remember just coming straight at me," he said.
He said the truck crossed the lanes of traffic near 32nd street. David hit the truck's grill and then the ground -- hard. "I felt a sharp pain in my right knee. It just felt like water was running down my knee."
But what really scared David. He says the truck didn't just drive off. "Ends up stopping and looks like it was going to turn around. At that moment I just feared for my life. I don't know this guy's intention." he said.
David picked himself up and ran to the nearest alley to hide. "I just hid under a truck and I called 9-1-1."
He stayed until police arrived. Now he wants the driver found -- and this question answered.
"Why," David asks, "why would someone do this. Go out of their way just to hit me when there's no traffic. There's nothing going on in the road but just me and that car.
David underwent emergency surgery to repair his shredded knee. He's now beginning his long recovery at home with his wife and young daughter. 'I told my wife even if I lost my leg, I'm just glad I'm happy that I'm alive," he said.
David's wife, Nancy, knows the dangers of being a correctional officer. It's a real fear each time her husband leaves the house. "Every time we talk about it, I always tell him, you always come home no matter what. But --- ." She and David didn't expect anything like this and are now counting their blessings that he's still here.
