MOBILE, Ala. — A woman was hurt Thursday night in an Airport Boulevard hit-and-run when a vehicle struck her as she tried to cross the busy Mobile thoroughfare, and the driver left before police arrived, the Mobile Police Department said.
The woman’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.
What police say happened
Officers were sent to the 3800 block of Airport Boulevard shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, after a report that a pedestrian had been struck, according to an MPD news release.
Investigators determined the woman had been hit while attempting to cross Airport Boulevard. By the time officers got there, the driver was gone.
Police have not released the woman’s name or age, a description of the vehicle or driver, or which direction the vehicle was traveling. They also have not said whether the woman was crossing at an intersection or crosswalk. No arrest has been announced.
Quick facts
- When: Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026
- Where: 3800 block of Airport Boulevard, Mobile
- Victim: A woman, with injuries described as non-life-threatening
- Driver: Left the scene before officers arrived
- Investigating agency: Mobile Police Department
A heavily traveled corridor
Airport Boulevard is one of Mobile’s main east-west commercial arteries, running from midtown west past Interstate 65 and on toward west Mobile and the county. It is lined with shopping centers, restaurants and businesses, and it carries multiple lanes of traffic in each direction for much of its length.
Wide, fast multi-lane roads like Airport Boulevard can be difficult to cross on foot, especially away from signalized intersections. Thursday’s crash happened well after sunset, when visibility for both drivers and pedestrians is reduced.
Part of a troubling stretch for pedestrians
Thursday’s crash is the latest in a series of incidents in the Mobile area this month in which people on foot were struck by vehicles:
- Oct. 10: Mehul “Mike” Patel, 45, was killed near the I-10 exit ramp at U.S. 90 after stopping to help a driver whose car had flipped. The driver who hit him left the scene. On Friday, Oct. 23, police announced the arrest of a 65-year-old Florida man in that case.
- Oct. 12: Fredrick Coleman, 69, was killed at Ross and Arlington streets by a driver who did not stop.
- Oct. 16: A man was killed while trying to cross the ramp from westbound I-10 to northbound I-65 during the Friday evening rush hour.
Police have not suggested any connection between those cases and Thursday’s crash on Airport Boulevard.
A national problem
Pedestrian deaths have been a persistent concern for traffic safety officials across the country. Federal data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have shown more than 7,000 pedestrians killed in U.S. traffic crashes in each of the most recent reported years, well above the levels of a decade earlier, and tens of thousands more are injured.
Research has consistently found that most pedestrian deaths happen after dark and away from intersections, often on wide arterial roads built to move traffic quickly. Speed is a major factor: the faster a vehicle is going, the less time a driver has to react and the more likely a person on foot is to be seriously hurt or killed.
If you witness a crash involving a pedestrian
- Call 911 immediately and give the exact location, including the block number or nearest cross street.
- If it is safe, stay with the injured person, but do not move them unless they are in immediate danger.
- Note anything you can about a vehicle that leaves: color, make, body style, damage and any part of the tag number.
- Stay off the travel lanes and watch for oncoming traffic while you wait for responders.
What Alabama law requires of drivers
Under Alabama law, a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must stop at the scene, or as close to it as safely possible, and stay until certain duties are met. Those include giving their name, address and vehicle registration information and providing reasonable assistance to anyone who is hurt, such as arranging for medical care.
Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a Class C felony in Alabama, which carries a possible sentence of one to 10 years in prison. A driver can face that charge even if the crash itself was not their fault.
How hit-and-run cases are solved
Detectives in hit-and-run cases often depend on physical evidence and help from the public. Pieces of a vehicle left at the scene, such as broken headlight or mirror parts, can help narrow down its make and model. Investigators may also look for footage from business security cameras, traffic cameras or dash cameras along the route.
Tips frequently matter. Someone may notice new front-end damage on a vehicle, a car suddenly taken to a body shop, or a person who has talked about a crash.
Safety tips for pedestrians and drivers
Traffic safety officials offer these reminders, especially after dark:
- Cross at intersections or marked crosswalks whenever possible, and use pedestrian signals where they exist.
- Make yourself visible. Wear light-colored or reflective clothing at night and carry a flashlight or use a phone light.
- Don’t assume drivers see you. Try to make eye contact before stepping into the road, and watch for turning vehicles.
- Drivers: slow down and scan. Watch for people walking along busy corridors, near bus stops and outside shopping centers, and put the phone away.
- Drivers: stop if you hit someone. Pull over safely, call 911 and stay at the scene.
How to help investigators
Anyone who was near the 3800 block of Airport Boulevard around 8 p.m. Thursday and saw the crash, or who has video or other information, is asked to contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Anonymous tips can be sent by text to 844-251-0644.
South AL News will update this story if police release more information.
