Police searching for driver who hit blind woman and guide dog, then drove away

Authorities in southwest Missouri are searching for the man who hit a woman and her guide dog.

Affiliate KSPR-TV reports Kathy Marburger was walking to a Springfield bus stop when a car hit her, knocking her and her dog, Zena, to the ground.

“The car rode into me, knocked me down and knocked Zena down,” Marburger told KSPR. “Somehow my body turned and it went on the sidewalk instead of in Battlefield [Road].”

She says the driver stopped briefly, then fled from the scene.

Marburger went to the hospital for treatment and says her knee is sore after falling down. Zena was not injured.

She’s crediting Zena for preventing an even worse accident from happening. Despite Zena seeing the car approaching, the driver did not stop.

“She’s my eyes and is very loyal to me,” Marburger said. “If it hadn’t been for her, I don’t know what would have happened.

Springfield police are asking for any potential witnesses to come forward because they have no license plate details and no description of the driver or vehicle.

“We depend on witnesses and any surveillance footage to catch the person, because it’s very difficult without a license plate. It’s really hard to catch the person,” said Springfield police spokesperson Lisa Cox.

There are several businesses in the area where Marburger was hit and investigators say they will interview employees at those stores to see if they know anything.

Springfield police say if anyone has information about the driver involved in the hit-and-run accident, call 417-864-1810.