Hit and run numbers in Saskatoon startling

Watch above: The number of vehicles involved in hit and run collisions in Saskatoon is startling. Aaron Streck finds out where most of the more than 4,000 incidents occur each year.

SASKATOON – Kassandra Saretzky was on her way to work last on April 2 when she was involved in a collision on Circle Drive.

“He gets out of his car, so I’m just assuming he’s going to give me his information but he just checked his vehicle and drove off,” said hit and run victim Kassandra Saretzky.

Her car is being written off, she has a $700 deductible to pay and to top it off, the 19-year-old hasn’t been able to return to work.

“She’s got a major concussion, she has trouble focusing and stuff like that and concentrating, bright lights hurt her, loud sounds, she’s got whiplash,” said Kassandra’s mother, Kendra Saretzky.

“Her back, she’s got a disc that is I believe is bulging, the muscles all in her right side are pulled, her hip is out of place.”

It’s been a roller-coaster ride of emotions for Saretzky’s family with the driver still out there.

“It’s not even about the money, it’s just the principal of it too, we’ve got the first three (license plate) letters, it’s been very difficult to find, it’s a very basic vehicle, witnesses said it was either E or F, 250 or 350 white van,” said Kendra.

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The Saskatoon Police Service receives between 4,000 and 4,400 hit and run reports on average each year, the majority are fender benders in parking lots.

“How do you make people become more honest or take responsibility for their actions, it’s hit and miss with that,” said Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit S/Sgt. Judy McHarg.

“With hit and runs people don’t want to be caught, we count on the people that watch and let us know what happened.”

Similar to wildlife or pothole claims, the onus in hit and runs is on drivers to pay the deductible.

“In a situation of a hit and run because there’s no known responsible party it does mean you’re responsible for your deductible,” said SGI’s Kelley Brinkworth.

“If police do end up finding out who the responsible party was, then SGI would seek to recover your deductible from that person.”

Crime Stoppers, emails from the public and surveillance videos from businesses have recently helped police find offenders involved in hit and runs. Kassandra Saretzky hopes the man who struck her can also be found.

Police say winter is usually the worst time for hit and runs with slick road conditions.