Graham police search for driver after hit-and-run critically injures 31-year-old man

Graham police are searching for the driver who fled the scene of a hit-and-run that left a 31-year-old man with life-threatening injuries at the intersection of East Harden Street and Woody Drive early Sunday morning. Officers responded around 6:30 to 6:36 a.m., with one local outlet reporting the response time as about 6:30 a.m. and another listing 6:36 a.m. on Feb. 8.

When officers arrived they found the man lying in the roadway. Wfmynews2 reports he was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital, while ABC45, WGHP and other affiliates say he was transported to a local trauma center for treatment. No name or further medical details have been released. Police say the driver left the area before officers arrived and that no description of the vehicle or driver is available at this time.

The Graham Police Department has opened an active investigation and is asking anyone with information to come forward. Reporters have been given three direct contacts for tips: Cpl. J. Taylor at the Graham Police Department, 336-570-6711 ext. 3230; the Burlington-Graham Communications Center, 336-229-3500; and Alamance County Crime Stoppers, 336-229-7100. Neighbors and business owners near East Harden Street and Woody Drive are being asked to check surveillance cameras and dashcam footage and to alert police with any relevant video or witness information.

Beyond the immediate search for a suspect, the crash raises local public-safety and economic questions. Serious pedestrian crashes require urgent trauma care that can strain hospital resources and carry significant costs for patients and insurers. They also trigger municipal decisions about where to invest in safer crossings, street lighting and traffic enforcement. For a city the size of Graham, a single life-threatening collision can prompt policy reviews on pedestrian infrastructure, enforcement strategies and whether to allocate funds to targeted traffic-calming measures along corridors where people walk to work, school or transit.

For residents, the short-term priority is public safety and helping investigators locate the driver. Long term, the incident underscores persistent concerns about pedestrian safety on arterial streets. City leaders and the police department may face calls to review recent crash data and consider measures that reduce the likelihood of similar events.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Cpl. J. Taylor at 336-570-6711 ext. 3230, the Burlington-Graham Communications Center at 336-229-3500, or Alamance County Crime Stoppers at 336-229-7100.