MOBILE, Ala. — A 69-year-old man was killed Monday afternoon when a vehicle struck him at Ross Street and Arlington Street and the driver kept going, Mobile police said. The Mobile hit-and-run is the second deadly crash in the city in three days in which a driver hit someone and left the scene.
Police identified the man as Fredrick Coleman. Investigators are asking anyone who saw the crash or knows anything about it to come forward.
What Police Say Happened
Mobile police officers and Mobile Fire-Rescue crews were sent to the area of Ross Street and Arlington Street at about 1:35 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, after a report of a traffic crash, according to a Mobile Police Department news release.
When officers got there, they found Coleman lying in the roadway. He was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and died a short time later, police said.
As officers looked into what had happened, they determined that Coleman had been hit by a vehicle and that the driver did not stop. Police have called the case an active investigation.
- Victim: Fredrick Coleman, 69
- When: About 1:35 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, 2026
- Where: Area of Ross Street and Arlington Street, Mobile
- Responding agencies: Mobile Police Department and Mobile Fire-Rescue Department
- Status: Driver left the scene; active investigation
Many Questions Still Unanswered
Police have released few details beyond the basic timeline. As of Wednesday, the department had not released a description of the vehicle or the driver, said whether Coleman was walking, crossing the street or doing something else when he was hit, or said which direction the vehicle was traveling.
Police also have not said whether investigators have any suspects or leads, or whether any video of the crash has been found. No arrest had been announced, and no one has been charged.
Personal details about Coleman, including where he lived, have not been released. His family had not commented publicly.
Second Deadly Hit-and-Run in Mobile in Three Days
Coleman’s death came less than two days after another fatal hit-and-run in the city. Late on Saturday, Oct. 10, Jayan Mehul Patel, 45, was struck and killed near where the Interstate 10 exit ramp meets U.S. 90 after he stopped to help the driver of a car that had flipped over. Police said the driver of the vehicle that hit Patel also left the scene.
Police have not suggested that the two crashes are connected. They happened in different parts of the city, at different times of day and under different circumstances. But in both cases, investigators are relying on the public to help identify a driver who did not stay.
Pedestrian deaths have been a recurring concern across Mobile County. Earlier this month, an Eight Mile woman, 59, was identified as the victim of a pedestrian crash on Bear Fork Road in Prichard.
What Alabama Law Requires After a Crash
Alabama law requires any driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone to stop at the scene, or as close to it as safely possible, and remain there until certain duties are met. Those duties include giving their name, address and vehicle registration information and providing reasonable help to anyone who is hurt, including arranging to get them medical care.
Leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury or death is a Class C felony in Alabama, punishable by one to 10 years in prison. A driver who leaves the scene can face that charge whether or not they were at fault for the crash itself. Prosecutors may also consider other charges depending on what investigators learn about how the crash happened.
Attorneys and safety advocates often point out that a driver who stops, calls 911 and stays usually faces far less legal risk than one who flees. Stopping also gives the injured person the best chance of getting help quickly.
How Hit-and-Run Cases Are Investigated
When a driver leaves the scene of a deadly crash, detectives work from two main sources: physical evidence and people who saw something. Pieces of a vehicle left behind, such as broken headlight or mirror parts, trim or paint transfer, can help narrow down the make, model and color of the vehicle involved.
Investigators also commonly canvass the area for video. Home security cameras, doorbell cameras, business surveillance systems and drivers’ dash cameras can capture a vehicle passing through an intersection around the time of a crash, even if they did not record the collision itself.
Tips from the public often make the difference. Someone may notice a neighbor’s or co-worker’s car with fresh front-end damage, a vehicle that suddenly disappears from its usual parking spot, a car dropped off at a body shop for unexplained repairs, or a person who starts talking about a wreck. Any of those details can be worth passing along to police.
Staying Safe on Foot
Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable people on the road, and older adults are especially likely to be seriously hurt or killed when struck by a vehicle. Traffic safety agencies offer a few basic recommendations for people walking in Mobile and across the region:
- Use sidewalks where they exist. Where there are none, walk facing traffic and as far from the travel lanes as possible.
- Cross at intersections or marked crosswalks when you can, and look left, right and left again before stepping out.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them; do not assume a driver sees you.
- Wear bright or reflective clothing, and carry a light when walking near dusk or after dark.
- Put the phone away and keep your attention on the road while crossing.
Drivers carry the larger share of the responsibility. Slowing down in neighborhoods, watching for people at intersections and avoiding distractions such as phones can prevent many pedestrian crashes. Even a modest reduction in speed gives a driver more time to stop and greatly improves the odds that a person who is hit will survive.
How to Help Investigators
Police said the case remains active and asked anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about it to contact investigators. Anyone who was near Ross Street and Arlington Street around 1:35 p.m. Monday, or who has home, business or dash camera video from that area, may have information that helps.
- Mobile Police Department: 251-208-7211
- Anonymous tips: Mobile Area Crime Stoppers, 251-208-7000
- Emergencies: Call 911
This story will be updated if police release more information, including a description of the vehicle or any arrest in the case.
