Laborers’ 110 member critically injured in hit and run to enter rehab facility

Police still asking for help in identifying the person responsible for the incident

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent

Some joyous news for family and friends of Laborers’ Local 110 member Doug Hindle who was critically injured in a May hit-and-run incident in Affton: he is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital this week and transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

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.

NOW ABLE TO SPEAK

After fighting for his life in the intensive care unit for over a month, Hindle finally regained consciousness and was communicating with head nods or winks. Last week, he was finally able to speak to his wife, Kathy and his daughter, Sarah Lange.

Lange has been providing updates on her dad via a You Caring account (youcaring.com/kathyhindle-827878) she set up to help the family with expenses. So far, more than $5,000 has been raised.

Lange said that on Friday, her dad told her mom that he was going home with her and tried to get out of bed. She said her mom explained to him that he had to go to the rehab facility first, and he said that was fine.

“I am so grateful, proud and just all around in shock and awe that he made it and he is awake and talking and ready to get his body back,” Lange said. “My dad’s going to be ok. I kept my promise to my mom that everything was going to be ok. This time my prayers were answered and my dad will be able to be here for my kids.”

POLICE STILL ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

St. Louis County police are still investigating the incident and are asking for your 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 on the incident as it does for all felony cases.

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.