Hit and run suspect still at large

From Staff Reports

Published: July 27, 2009

HICKORY
Law enforcement officials are searching for a hit and run suspect who ran down a Lenoir man on U.S. 321 killing him early this morning.

Reynardo Funez, 27, was killed shortly after 4 a.m. while exiting from U.S. 321 to N.C. 127, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Funez's wife, who was taking him to be picked up for work, parked the couples' Honda on the shoulder of U.S. 321 Southbound and the N.C. 127 on ramp. He exited the car from the right rear passenger seat, and was hit by the Xterra traveling south on the N.C. 127 ramp, according to the highway patrol.

The victim was thrown between 50 and 100 feet from the car and died on the scene. The driver of the Xterra turned right, onto N.C. 127 southbound, towards Mountain View, according to the highway patrol.

Funez's coworker, who was picking him up to go to work in South Carolina, saw the incident happen and attempted to follow the Nissan, but lost it on N.C. 127. Funez's 4-year-old daughter, who was sitting in the left rear passenger seat, also witnessed the hit and run.

If you have any information about the driver who caused the fatal accident, call the N.C. Highway Patrol at 828-466-5500.

For more on this story, read tomorrow's Hickory Daily Record.