PICKENS — The community is stepping up to help one local man who was injured in a hit and run on July 4.

Ron Duncan is expected to recover, but suffered a multitude of injuries including a broken pelvis, lacerated spleen, broken leg, broken arm, fractured skull and 11 broken ribs after a driver struck him while riding his motorcycle on Highway 183 — and didn’t stop.

According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, Duncan was traveling west on Highway 183 just after 10 p.m. when a vehicle at Durham Mill Road turned left onto the highway, striking him and sending the man and his bike sprawling across the highway.

Duncan’s wife, Maryann Duncan, was following behind her husband but had stopped for gas. She came across the scene several minutes later but there was no sign of the car who had hit him.

Both the car and driver are unknown at this time, SCHP officials said.

Sharon Maloney-Schroth, Duncan’s sister-in-law, has set up a Gofundme to help support the family which has raised over $1,000 in just seven days.

“As most of you know, my brother in law Ronnie was in a serious motorcycle accident July 4th. A hit and run. Left there alone in the road,” Maloney-Schroth wrote. “We are thankful that kind people stopped to help him.”

Duncan’s sister-in-law stated both Ronnie and Maryann were at their niece’s house for a Fourth of July cookout.

“Maryann and Ronnie were on their way home,” she wrote on the fundraiser web page. “Maryann had to stop for gas but forgot to tell Ronnie so he was ahead of her. So she ended up pulling up on the accident. He must have hit his head because he told her he didn’t remember being hit.”

The bumper of the car that hit Ronnie was left at the accident, she said.

“Ronnie received some pretty serious injuries. Please pray for Ronnie that he will be strong and recover from all of his injuries and they find the individual who hit him and then fled. He is in a great deal of pain,” it reads.

Maloney-Schroth said Duncan has a long recovery ahead of him and when he is released from the hospital he will need to go into a rehabilitation center.

“A lot of you ask how you can help and what you can do,” she said. “If you can help support Ronnie and Maryann during this time with medical bills and loss of income please do so as your heart leads.”

The crowd-sourcing fundraiser is available at www.gofundme.com/ronnie-duncan-motorcycle-accident.

Those with information on the accident or tips concerning the identity of the vehicle driver are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME or Highway Patrol dispatchers at 864-241-1000.

Ronnie Duncan was left for dead on Highway 183 after being thrown from his motorcycle in a hit and run.
https://www.sentinelprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/web1_duncan.jpgRonnie Duncan was left for dead on Highway 183 after being thrown from his motorcycle in a hit and run. Courtesy photo
Hit and run victim faces long road to recovery

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@championcarolinas.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.