MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the victim of Sunday's hit and run as 53-year-old Anthony Barnes.
According to their investigative report, surveillance video showed Barnes riding a bicycle on West Wright Street around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The bike did not have lights and Anthony was not wearing a helmet. Two cars were speeding southbound on South 35th Street. One of the cars hit Anthony as he crossed the intersection.
The striking car carried Anthony 180 feet before he landed. That driver left the scene.
Benny Barnes said he nearly fell to the ground after police told him his son was killed. For a moment, Benny thought police were mistaken.
"When they showed me the picture that's when I realized it is my son. Just tried to keep from breaking down right then and there," said Benny.
"I heard a loud boom, sounded like two vehicles colliding," said a woman who lives near the crash site.
She said the sound made her jump and look out her window. She saw Anthony on the ground and called 911.
"The fire department they worked really really hard trying to revive this young man," said the neighbor.
Milwaukee Police issued an alert for the car and driver that hit Anthony. Several hours later the suspect turned himself in to police at District 7.
"It's still my feeling that they should've stopped in the first place. He didn't know if my son was that badly hurt or dead or what. He could've stopped to offer some kind of assistance," said Benny.
Benny added Anthony had a family including young kids of his own. He didn't have a picture to share but people often said the two of them looked alike.
"He was a good guy good kid he was fun-loving. He liked to help people," said Benny.
As Benny mourns he keeps asking himself why didn't the driver stop.
There are no details on who the suspect is yet, but charges are pending.
