Odessan dies in hit and run [Odessa American, Texas]

Sept. 30--A 90-year-old Odessa man was pronounced dead at the scene of a hit-and-run crash Monday morning in the 2300 block of East Eighth Street in which police are still searching for suspects.

Odessa Police Department spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur said the man, Halbert Fanning Jr., was pronounced dead on the scene.

In a late Monday news release, LeSueur said police are searching for 21-year-old Jonathan Miguel Scott, who is wanted for questioning in reference to the accident.

Scott, who is previously from Gary, Ind., according to court records, but currently lives in Odessa.

Tiffini Ehrenberg, a waitress at Catfish and Co. restaurant, said Fanning and another man were eating at the restaurant while waiting for their vehicle to be repaired at Firestone right across the street.

The second man went across the street to get the car, Ehrenberg said, while Fanning continued to eat. But Fanning finished eating before the second man came back with the car.

"He had paid out and decided to go across instead of wait," Ehrenberg said.

LeSueur said the white Ford Crown Victoria was driving eastbound when it struck Fanning. Police were called out to the scene at about 7:53 a.m. Monday, he said.

Ehrenberg said the second man drove back to the other side of the street, unaware of what just happened. When she told him, she said he was overcome with emotion.

"He just fell to his knees," Ehrenberg said.

Both Fanning and the other man often go to Catfish and Co., Ehrenberg said, and she described Fanning as a "very sweet old man."

LeSueur said the driver of the Crown Victoria did not stop at the scene, and instead drove off and dumped the vehicle in the American Legion parking lot.

The person who was driving the car then fled on foot, LeSueur said. Police received information that two black men were in the vehicle and that they were possibly young, but no other information about them was immediately available. Police are checking the vehicle for any possible identifiers.

"We have the vehicle so we're going to try to find out who the owner is, start the investigation there," LeSueur said.

The person driving the vehicle faces at least a third-degree felony for failing to stop and render aid, LeSueur said.

As of late Monday afternoon, the vehicle was not reported stolen, LeSueur said.

According to Odessa American archives, Fanning previously had an insurance business.

Anyone who has information about the accident is encouraged to call either Sgt. Casey Reed with the Odessa Police Department at 432-335-3355 or Crime Stoppers at 432-333-8477.

"A lot of times after crimes are committed, they'll mess up. They'll say something," LeSueur said of suspects.

Contact Jon Vanderlaan on twitter at @OAcourts, on Facebook at OA Jon Vanderlaan or call 432-333-7763.

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