Rochester Police release name of man killed in hit-and-run on Driving Park Avenue

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Police say Billy Smith is the name of the 65-year-old man who died in a hit-and-run on Driving Park Avenue in the Maplewood neighborhood on Thursday morning.

Police are still looking for the driver who hit Smith and are asking anyone information to call 911. The city resident was walking in a crosswalk when a car hit him. By the time police got there, the driver had already taken off. 

Here’s what we know so far about the investigation. The call came in to police at 7:15 Thursday morning for a man lying in the road. By the time officers got there, Smith had already died.

Police spent the next few hours canvassing the area, looking for witnesses and security footage to help identify the driver. 

“We’re working to locate witnesses, locate video, perform those investigative steps to hopefully help us identify the vehicle and then the operator of the vehicle that struck this male and didn’t bother to stay and help him,” RPD Captain Greg Bello said.

This has been an area of concern for local transportation nonprofit Reconnect Rochester. It advocates for improving streets for all travelers — with a focus on walkers and bikers.

“When we have an incident like a person dying on the road, we look at what can we do in the immediate response period. What can we do immediately to improve safety along that corridor,” said Cody Donahue, director of policy and advocacy for Reconnect Rochester.

News10NBC’s Hailie Higgins spoke with the president of the Maplewood Neighborhood Association. He explains the intersection at Lake and Driving Park avenues in particular is a big concern for them.

They’ve been working with the city to put flashing lights in to make it safer. The lights have been approved, but haven’t been installed yet.