Laborers’ 110 member critically injured in May 18 hit and run still hospitalized

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent

More than two months after being critically injured in a hit-and-run incident on the job, Laborers’ Local 110 member Doug Hindle remains hospitalized.

Hindle, 55, was scheduled to be released from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation facility in mid-July, but he developed pneumonia. His physicians are treating the illness and working with him to get his strength back.

Local 110 Business manager Don Willey and other Local 110 brothers and sisters have been visiting Hindle and keeping him in their prayers. Willey stopped by the hospital last week and said Hindle is continuing to make progress.

CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS

“He actually stood on his own for the first time, and he is having conversations with his wife,” Willey said. “It seems like his mind is coming around.”

Hindle’s daughter, Sarah Lange, has been providing updates on her dad via a You Caring account  that she set up to help the family with expenses. Lange’s updates have become less frequent as her father continues to make progress.

“Dad’s doing so good that not a lot is going on right, now which is a good thing,” Lange wrote. “He is just super thin and weak and starting to get his strength up and moving around. This is what is going to take a little while until he is fully back. I can’t wait to bring him home.”

WHAT HAPPENED

Hindle, a 24-year member of the union set to retire June 1, was working on a paving project in the early morning hours of May 18 in Affton when he was struck and run over by a pickup truck that fled the scene.

His injuries included a ruptured aorta, fractures in his arms, legs, hands and ribs, a torn intestine, a broken pelvis, bruised kidneys, bleeding from the brain and second- and third-degree asphalt burns on much of his body. He had eight surgeries to repair the damage.

St. Louis County police are still investigating and asking for help in identifying the vehicle and person responsible. The reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver is at $31,000.

Laborers’ 110 is contributing $25,000 to the reward and Laborers’ Locals 42 and 660 each have added $2,500. Additionally, St. Louis Regional Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information, as it does for all felony cases.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The vehicle involved is described as a Chevy or GMC, white, extended-cab pickup truck. It has front-end damage and may be missing a driver’s side headlight. The hit-and-run occurred at 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 18 near Heege Road and New Hampshire Avenue.

Anyone with information is urged to call the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.