Credit: Submitted
A family is grieving and left with unanswered questions after a resident of Bristol Township’s Croydon section was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Christmas Eve.
John Dugan, 65, was pronounced deceased after being taken by ambulance from the scene where he was struck by a vehicle around 5:08 p.m. Friday on State Road in the area of Fourth Avenue.
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Police have not yet found the driver of the vehicle that struck Dugan and then failed to stop.
In a statement, police said Dugan was struck by a dark-colored SUV or pickup truck. The vehicle fled on State Road toward Bensalem Township.
Jamie Santos, one of Dugan’s three children, said the family was upset they didn’t have their father there for Christmas and his granddaughter’s birthday, which falls on the holiday.
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“I want justice for my dad,” she said. “He didn’t deserve this.”
Dugan, who had three kids and six grandchildren, was with his girlfriend of 13 years, who he was engaged to marry, when the crash happened. They had just put dinner in the oven and were walking across the street to drop by a neighbor’s Christmas party for a few minutes, Santos said.
Credit: Submitted
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“They were 20 feet from their door when this happened,” she said.
Dugan, who had several medical ailments and was a stage four cancer survivor, fell while crossing State Road. As his fiancée turned back while he began to get up, he was struck by the vehicle, Santos said.
There was no vehicle visible when the couple went to cross State Road, but it quickly appeared after Dugan fell. The fallen man was struck while he got back up, just missing his fiancée.
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Santos said police told the family it didn’t appear the striking vehicle attempted to stop before or after hitting the man.
The family set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Dugan’s services and to help take of his of fiancée, who is on disability.
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As of Sunday afternoon, about $3,500 had been raised to cover services for Dugan and help his fiancée.
Recalling her father, Santos said he was a hard worker who knew almost everyone in Croydon. He kept busy to provide for his family, including Santos and her siblings John and Sherry.
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Dugan was a U.S. Army veteran and volunteered at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
Credit: Submitted
From time-to-time, Dugan did an odd jobs at O’Fowley’s Tavern and Grill, a place he enjoyed visiting.
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The 65-year-old man had been limited in recent years due to his medical conditions, but he still loved to go fishing, visit Seaside Heights, New Jersey, and spend time with family.
“All he did was smile,” Santos said.
Anyone with information on the crash has been asked to contact Officer Kenneth Margerum at 267-812-2991.
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