Authorities in North Texas say they had to pull a suspect in a hit-and-run crash off a plane Wednesday as he was trying to flee the United States.
Arlington police said 25-year-old Omar Bashir Mohammad was detained Wednesday night after he was removed from a plane at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport trying to flee to the Middle Eastern country of Jordan.
Mohammad, police said, was driving a car that struck 73-year-old Terry Pinkston from behind Saturday as the man walked in his North Arlington neighborhood.
The driver took off after the collision and had since been the subject of a area-wide search. A good Samaritan was able to call 911, provide Pinkston with first aid and provide police with a description of the vehicle that hit the man.
Police said investigators found the vehicle, a blue Honda Civic with dents and a new windshield, parked at Mohammad's parent's home. A search warrant said the car was owned by Mohammad.
Detectives said they had obtained surveillance video of Mohammad driving the car out of an apartment complex only a block from where Pinkston was struck.
Mohammad was arrested and is facing one count of failure to stop and render aid. He is being held on $250,000 bond and was ordered to surrender his passport and wear an ankle monitor if he is released.
Hit-and-Run Victim Released from Fort Worth Hospital
Meanwhile, earlier Wednesday, Pinkston was discharged from John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth where he'd spent the previous five days recovering from his injuries.Pinkston and his family are grateful because things could have been far worse.
“A little bit tired, but these people know how to take care of you,” said Pinkston, when asked how he was feeling Wednesday.
Pinkston, who was nearly scalped in the crash, suffered injuries all over his body. The father of two said he never suspected he would have any trouble on that street.
“It's not the busiest street in the world. I was always worried about Brown, but never Ascension,” he said.
Pinkston said he knows exactly what he'll say when he meets the good Samaritan who helped provide first aid and called 911 after he was hit.
“'Thank you very much.' He went above and beyond, just glad he was there,” said Pinkston.
NBC 5's Scott Gordon contributed to this report.
