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  • "Persons Of Interest" Sought In Fatal Hit-And-Run Save Email Print
    Video shows individuals, vehicle possibly involved
    Posted: 4:13 PM Jun 4, 2008
    Last Updated: 2:10 AM Jun 5, 2008
    Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

    A | A | A

    The Iowa State Patrol said Wednesday it is looking for an early to mid '90s dark green, small to mid-size Chrysler, possibly a 1994 Dodge Spirit, in connection with Sunday night's hit-and-run that left a Glenwood, Iowa man dead.

    Authorities released surveillance video they say is connected to the case. In that video, two people identified only as "persons of interest" are seen leaving an establishment shortly before the accident. The video also shows what investigators say is the vehicle the two were in as they left that establishment.

    The vehicle should have substantial damage to its right fender, headlights and windshield. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Iowa State Patrol at 712-328-8001.

    Investigators say 58-year-old Joseph Spotts was helping an Omaha woman he knew who'd run out of gas on Interstate 29 south of Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs just before midnight.

    Spotts was pouring gas into the woman's minivan when he was struck. The driver did not stop.

    Both the victim’s car and the woman's minivan were properly parked on the side of the northbound lanes to handle an emergency.

    The Iowa State Patrol says the minivan was on the shoulder, but has a reminder for anyone who may run out of gas. "The farther you can coast to get off to the right the better,” says Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Bryan Michelsen. “The main thing is just to get as far off to the right of the roadway as possible."

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    Posted by: B on Jun 5, 2008 at 03:37 PM
    I doubt anyone knows this guy or what he is like. Let the jury decide when he's turned in, or turns himself in.

    Posted by: scott on Jun 5, 2008 at 01:20 PM
    who said anything about illegal aliens. this is why blogging is a bad thing it brings all of the people out of the wood work who like to talk about every thing except the subject in news stories . my thoughts go out to the familys involed and for the record were all illegal aliens!

    Posted by: SM on Jun 5, 2008 at 01:14 PM
    To. For Real. - Get real, Look in So. O? Don't tell me your from out West... How about we all look everywhere, at every car.. and find this person so they don't get away with it. God bless this man's family and friends.

    Posted by: jim on Jun 5, 2008 at 12:35 PM
    who ever does the time they deserve. murderers get hardly any time when they should be put to dead for murder and well people who commit crimes should be punished harder and maybe our crimes would go down. get rid of 80 percent of lawyers who defend these criminals and make them hold there own like responsibility for their actions,

    Posted by: Steve on Jun 5, 2008 at 11:05 AM
    Probably drunk underaged teenagers who hit them, MORE THAN LIKELY from West O, parents will hire James Martin Davis to represent them & they'll get a slap on the wrist. West O parents...DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE ? ? ? More importantly, did your teenaged son tell you what REALLY happened with YOUR car ? GET A GRIP & KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TEEN THUG PUNK KIDS !

    Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 5, 2008 at 10:17 AM
    Let's please not give anyone ideas... Turn yourself in, we'll find you sooner or later.

    Posted by: Book Value on Jun 5, 2008 at 09:33 AM
    A '94 Dodge Spirit only books for about $1000, or a fraction of that with collision damage. They might just junk the car down in Oklahoma or something like that, to get rid of the evidence. There are a lot of little yards where they'd get rid of it for you.

    Posted by: ??? on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:54 AM
    Did anyone watch the video??? They look like 16-year-old white kids to me...not illegal aliens as some have said (or implied with the "look in s.o." comment). Let's not blame EVERYTHING on illegal aliens.

    Posted by: t on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:47 AM
    The suspects look young and considering they had trouble opening the door, intoxicated. Let's hope they have a conscience and turn themselves in. My continued thoughts and prayers to Mr Spotts and his family.

    Posted by: Dean on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:11 AM
    He looks like every other west O kid.

    Posted by: HL on Jun 5, 2008 at 08:02 AM
    Not that it excuses what this person did, but consider that he/she may have realized what happened and panicked. Especially if it were someone who was inexperienced, or had been drinking, or had traffic violations, etc., the first instinct may have been to run. It could be a good person who just made a tragic mistake. Hopefully whoever it was will get the courage to come forward and admit to this terrible accident.

    Posted by: Cami on Jun 4, 2008 at 10:38 PM
    What type of Human Being could do this? They took one of this world's most caring, big hearted, open minded person that I knew!!! My prayers go out the girls that he left behind wihtout a choice! I hope this person is brought to justice and soon so those girls can have some closure.

    Posted by: Fernando on Jun 4, 2008 at 08:31 PM
    How can this person sleep at night? My sympathy to Mr Spotts family. He was trying to do a nice thing.

    Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 4, 2008 at 08:24 PM
    How could anyone strike someone with their car and keep going?It makes you wonder,did this man lose his life over a suspended license, dui, or no insurance?? They will catch this person as there has to be significant damage to the vehicle.

    Posted by: Chris on Jun 4, 2008 at 01:26 AM
    I'm sorry for the families loss. I hope they catch the person who did this and bring them to justice, it could of been someone who isn't a local, alot of travelers from other states drive that Interstate.

    Posted by: Tony on Jun 3, 2008 at 08:04 PM
    It could have been an educated person who had a grudge and took out on this poor man and thinks that he/she won't get caught because police will be looking for a person who is a drunk, high, suspended license,no insurance,outstanding warrants, illegal alien, it can be many reasons!

    Posted by: Wendi on Jun 3, 2008 at 02:34 PM
    people are getting hit on the interstate because Iowa dont want to take the time to fix the broken lights they have just take a drive down the interstate at 4 am when i have to go to work you'll see what I'm talking about

    Posted by: Kim on Jun 3, 2008 at 01:04 PM
    Whatever it takes we will find you and make you take responsiblity. Not only did you take a human being. You took a good man, father and friend to this community. I pray for whoever did this turns themselves in for Joe's girls sake to have closure in their lives

    Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 3, 2008 at 09:14 AM
    There are some sick folks out there who like to side swipe cars parked on highways, run over road kill, and sadly, harm another human all for cheap thrills. He can run, but he can't hide.

    Posted by: for real on Jun 3, 2008 at 07:14 AM
    Look in S.O.

    Posted by: tj on Jun 2, 2008 at 10:56 PM
    My god, what kind of person would do such a thing...accidents happen, but for Gosh sakes, stop and own up to it!!! Leads me to believe that they were not driving in a legal capacity...I pray for the family and friends and pray they find the scumbag soon@!

    Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 2, 2008 at 09:03 PM
    When the murderer is caught will he or she be let off easily because they were high and drunk? why does this continually happen?

    Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 2, 2008 at 08:35 PM
    sad a good Samaritan killed for what. hope they catch the thug

    Posted by: Many Reasons on Jun 2, 2008 at 07:04 PM
    Drunk. High. Suspended. Uninsured. Invalid registration. Outstanding warrants. Illegal alien. All kinds of reasons the dirtbag didn't stop.

    Posted by: klyn on Jun 2, 2008 at 05:01 PM
    heartbreaking. I feel awful for the family as well as the lady he had stopped to help who had to witness this.

    Posted by: pete on Jun 2, 2008 at 04:44 PM
    It probably was another drunk driver that the courts let off easy..

    Posted by: Elyssa on Jun 2, 2008 at 04:43 PM
    And that thought that someone could hit anyone and not stop is sickening and I hope they catch whoever was behind the wheel.

    Posted by: jp on Jun 2, 2008 at 04:34 PM
    Coward, absolute coward! Probably drunk or suspended. Any descent human would stop to help out another human being, regardless of whose fault it was.

    Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 2, 2008 at 01:00 PM
    I was coming back from KC and went past the seen. This kind of stuff just sickens me when others have no compasion for human life. My thoughts are with the family!

    Posted by: J on Jun 2, 2008 at 11:48 AM
    It's so terrible that someone wouldn't stop after they hit someone on the side of the road. My heart goes to the family of the gentleman who was hit.

    Posted by: brandi on Jun 2, 2008 at 10:57 AM
    how horrible!!!! my prayers go out to the victim and loved ones!!! i hope they catch whoever did this soon!!

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