78-year-old Bremerton man nearly killed by hit-and-run, hopes driver will come forward

BREMERTON, Wash. -- Walter Purdy may be hard of hearing, but his message comes across loud and clear.

His granddaughter, Catherine, used a Sharpie and dry erase board Tuesday to communicate my questions, as he recovers in a Bremerton rehabilitation facility.

“The neighbors heard it. They didn't see it, but they rushed out and helped,” says Purdy.

Kitsap County sheriff's investigators say someone struck the 78-year-old man on March 13 as he crossed Illahee Road to get his Sunday morning paper. Because he's hard of hearing, Walter says he made sure to look both ways.

The next thing he said he remembered was lying in the middle of the road.  Walter suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, a bad gouge on his leg and skinned heels. He now has possible blood clots from being bedridden for two weeks.

“Do the right thing. He's an old man. He just went across the street to get a newspaper. He wasn't hurting anybody,” says Walter’s daughter, Kimberly.

This Thursday, Walter will turn 79; unfortunately, he is stuck in his hospital bed.

The Vietnam veteran and purple heart recipient says he can forgive the driver, but he certainly won't forget.

Witnesses say the car is light silver, but couldn't describe the make and model.   We do know it has front-end damage and detectives collected debris from the scene.  If you know anything call the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.