A West Bradenton couple severely injured in a hit-and-run crash on Feb. 17 is still hopeful police investigating the crime will bring the driver who hurt them to justice.
- Heather, Rickey Brisbois riding motorcycle when they were hit
- Person registered to car claims he was home sleeping when crash occurred
- Couple has set up GoFundMe account for help during their recovery
The cuts, bruises, and scars left behind on Heather and Rickey Brisbois still appear as fresh as the day the trauma that inflicted them occurred.
"The louder I screamed ... maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad," said Heather. "I could see my leg folded over in front of me."
The couple was riding their motorcycle on the way home from "Thunder on the Bay" in Sarasota on U.S. 301 when another driver drove into their right of way and struck them head on.
Rickey suffered a broken leg, but his injuries did not stop him from saving his wife.
"He takes his sweater off, and he tied it around my leg," Heather, a nursing student, explained. "Honestly, knowing now there was an artery punctured and the femur break, he probably did save my life."
It's an emotional thought, considering the driver who struck them took off instantly.
"To just leave us there, my wife in the condition she is ... I just want him to man up and take responsibility for what he did," said Rickey.
The couple says they saw the car and potential suspect before they were hit.
The problem is, the person registered to the car says he was sleeping the night of the accident, and tells police he doesn't know who was driving the car.
"It's hard right now at this point in the investigation to prove that the owner was the driver," said Sarasota Police Department Spokesperson Genevieve judge.
However, police have released some good news in the investigation. Investigators have obtained a search warrant for the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run.
Heather and Rickey just hope authorities catch whoever was driving before that person causes this kind of pain to anyone else.
If you would like to make a donation to help with the couple's medical bills, visit https://www.gofundme.com/help-the-brisbois-family.
This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Bay News 9/News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.