ARREST MADE IN WEEKEND HIT AND RUN THAT LEFT ONE PERSON INJURED
On Saturday, July 6, 2019, at about 2:00 AM Glynn County Fire and Police personnel responded to a traffic crash involving a pedestrian on Frederica Road near Saint Clair Drive on Saint Simons Island. 19-year-old Saint Simons resident Rilyn Ellis was located laying in the roadway by a passing motorist with severe injuries. The driver of the vehicle which struck Mr. Ellis fled the scene of the crash prior to the passing motorist finding Mr. Ellis.
Mr. Ellis was transported to the Southeast Georgia Health System – Brunswick Campus Emergency Department in serious condition. He was later transferred to UF Health Jacksonville.
Glynn County Police Officer Brandon Rusch, who is a traffic crash investigator, worked diligently investigating the crash with little to initially go on. Through his hard work and dedication to bring the person responsible to justice, he located the driver and vehicle on the evening of Monday, July 8, 2019. As a result of Officer Rusch’s investigation, 19-year-old Michael Harris of Saint Simons has been arrested. Mr. Harris has been charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Injury and Causing Serious Injury by Vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are anticipated.
If you have information regarding this investigation, please contact Officer Rusch at 912-554- 3645 or the Silent Witness Line at 912-264-1333.