Inset, top to bottom: Patrick Imafidon (Jackson Police Department) and Pamela Ellis (Artic Obits). Background: The GMC Yukon Imafidon was allegedly driving when he killed Ellis (JPD).
A 45-year-old Mississippi man is accused of killing a 56-year-old woman, allegedly striking her with his car as she was walking home from the store carrying groceries before fleeing the scene.
Patrick Imafidon was taken into custody and charged with one count of culpable-negligence manslaughter and one count of felony leaving the scene in the death of Pamela Ellis, authorities announced.
According to a press release from the Jackson Police Department, Ellis was struck by a white GMC Yukon at about 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 near North State Street and Briarwood Drive in Jackson. Police said the car struck Ellis "as she was walking home with her groceries."
Investigators obtained surveillance footage from a nearby business that allegedly showed a Yukon at the time of the collision. Security video from another business allegedly showed the same Yukon with heavy damage to its front end and "what appeared to be white Styrofoam plates in the grill of the vehicle."
Police said similar material was found where Ellis was struck.
After trying to identify the driver and locate the SUV, investigators appealed to the public for help. People who shared the department's request and provided tips helped police track down the vehicle and identify Imafidon, authorities said. The department announced the vehicle had been recovered on Oct. 7, a day before Imafidon's arrest was announced.
In the days after the crash, residents told local NBC affiliate WLBT that speeding had long been a concern on North State Street. Vicky McCrimmon described the traffic as consistently fast and busy, warning that people needed to be especially careful around children.
"You think it's race city some days of the week. It's always very busy and very fast traffic. So, you have to be very careful when you go up there, especially with the little kids," McCrimmon told the station.
Another resident, Amy Montes, urged drivers who hit someone to stop and get help rather than leave the scene.
"If somebody was to hit anybody with a car, you would hope they would stop and go back. If you can't stop and go back, please call and get them some help," Montes said.
Imafidon appeared in Jackson Municipal Court on Oct. 8, where a judge ordered him held on $105,000 bond: $75,000 on the manslaughter charge and $30,000 on the felony leaving-the-scene charge. It was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to make his next court appearance.
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