Police search for New Haven hit & run driver

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A teen was critically injured in a hit and run in New Haven. The suspect has not been caught yet.

Gas station surveillance camera caught Saturday's crash.

Now, police are asking for the public's help to track down who was behind the wheel.

"The victim was vaulted off the front of the vehicle in what's called a 'roof vault' because he actually flips on and over the roof of the vehicle," said Officer Rose Dell, New Haven Police.

The victim is a 17-year-old man. He's now in a coma at St. Raphael's with a bad head injury.

"Hit and runs can be very difficult, depending on what kind of physical evidence we have on scene, what kind of witness statements, what kind of video surveillance," said Officer Dell.

In this case, they're lucky to have the surveillance video, but it isn't enough. No one has been arrested yet, and the New Haven Police, along with the victim's family are now pleading with the public to come forward.

"In the surveillance video, we see that we have a lot of people around, there was people in vehicles, at Best Gas station, we have a number of pedestrians on the street so we believe we have witnesses out there that can help us," Officer Dell said, "we're hoping that the driver will come forward, there could also be passengers in that vehicle."

It was 3 a.m., early Saturday morning, but it happened at a busy stretch on Whalley Avenue. Someone must have seen something. So far, the description is a dark-colored Nissan Altima or a similar car, with dark-tinted windows, and a license plate with the numbers 3 and 1.

"The car should have front-end damage, heavy hood damage, possibly a cracked windshield and maybe even roof damage," said Officer Dell.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department.