ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WTVF) — An Antioch mother is seeking justice for her son's death after he was hit and killed by a vehicle last month.
Sharron Sims said Dewayne Sims, 28, was walking home from Wal-Mart on February 26th at around 9:15 p.m. when he was hit by the vehicle. He died at the scene.
Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said Sims was walking along the westbound lane of Hamilton Church Road when he was hit by the 2014 Altima driven by Carlos Valle Romero, 20, of Antioch. Valle Romero said he did not see Sims in enough time to avoid striking him. That section of Hamilton Church Road has no shoulder or sidewalk and is not illuminated by street lights.
"I've been torn, I've been hurt. My husband and I got the call, the chaplain told us it was a hit and run but the driver did come back. So when the police called the chaplain back and let her know the driver came back, he just went to park the car. You're not suppose to leave the scene at all," Sims said.
Officers on scene said drugs and alcohol were not a factor although they did not perform a test on the driver. Romero is not facing charges. Aaron told Newschannel 5 that officers are highly trained in impairment detection and did not detect anything.
Sims said she wants city officials to place either a sidewalk, crosswalk or more street lights on the road especially as the area becomes more populated along Murfreesboro Pike.
"They need pedestrian signs, people do walk. Some people don't drive they have to walk. Not just my son but someone else will be walking. Will it be okay then to hit somebody else's child? That's not fair. To all the mothers who have to go through what I'm going through in this area fight, fight for justice because it's not right at all," Sims said.
Council member At Large Bob Mendes is currently handling constituents' inquiries as the current District 29 representative seat needs to be filled. A special election will be held on March 19.
"I will certainly make sure that the winner of the March 19 special election is aware of this immediately. I will lend support to whoever wins on March 19 for improvements (the family) seeks at that intersection," Mendes said.
Dwayne Sims leaves behind four siblings.
A wake will be held on Wednesday March 6th at The Greater Love Building Kingdom located at 1264 3rd Avenue South starting at 11am -12pm. Funeral to follow.
