BATAVIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – One person was found dead early Monday after a hit-and-run in Clermont County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Colton S. Dearing, 28, of Amelia, was found dead just before 12:30 a.m. along Old State Route 74 near Olive Branch Cemetery Road, troopers said. Troopers determined that Dearing was hit by an unidentified vehicle.
Dearing’s cousin, Jaden Shifflet, said Dearing was walking with his pregnant girlfriend along the stretch of Old State Route 47 near Amelia Olive Branch Road when he was hit and killed. He was minutes from home.
“My cousin was just walking from the store, four minutes away from his house. Him and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument and he walked away from her separated and by the time she looked back and seen he was gone, she turned around and started heading this way, and by that time, he was already gone,” Shifflet said.
Investigation continues
The crash happened around 12:20 a.m. on Old State Route 47, near Olive Branch Cemetery Road. Ohio State Highway Patrol said the driver has not been identified. No arrests have been made.
Dearing leaves behind four children and a baby on the way.
“He was an amazing person. He loved animals. He was very caring. He’d go out of his way to help people — just a guy that’s going to be missed by his family,” Shifflet said.
Shifflet said the family is grieving and pleading for answers.
“I just want you to realize you caused a lot of harm and we’re hurt — but we forgive you. That’s the people that we are. That’s what Colton would want us to do,” Shifflet said.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the Batavia Post at 513-732-1510.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover his funeral costs.
Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man found dead after hit-and-run in Clermont County, troopers say
Reporting by FOX19 Digital Staff / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
