Man recovers from hit and run in Lawrence

LAWRENCE, Mass. -- A man was injured after getting hit by a car that has been linked to a local city leader.

“I’m lucky to be alive. That guy should have never taken off,” said Michael Baglieri, who was hit.

Baglieri said that he escaped through the window of his crushed car after he says the driver of a white Chevy Avalanche sped out in front of him.

“As I was getting closer he kept inching out and I went into the other lane to try and avoid him and he must have just gunned the gas,” said Baglieri.

The cars collided on Merrimack Street in Lawrence around 11:30 Friday night.

Baglieri banged his head, and his knee was also hurt.

“For someone to not really care about the other person, I mean, I’m in pretty rough shape,” said Baglieri.

Lawrence police say witnesses saw the driver of the Avalanche abandon the vehicle with the keys still in the ignition.

They traced the license plate, and police say the registered owner is Newburyport City Councilor Allison Heartquist.

“We asked her who had her vehicle, she indicated that her husband had been attending a party in Lawrence, a Christmas party or something to that effect, and that he had the vehicle. She asked why we were asking, we said that it was involved in an accident, she says, ‘Oh no.’” said Chief John Romero of the Lawrence Police Department.

Police say they’ve questioned Heartquist’s husband and he has not admitted to having the vehicle. Police say the car has not been reported stolen.

The councilor has not responded to a request to comment to 7NEWS. Baglieri cannot work right now because of the accident, and has a family, including four children to support. Now he wants answers.

“This guy should just turn himself in and face his consequences. I’m a family guy. I don’t really deserve this,” said Baglieri.

Police are executing a search warrant on the Chevy Avalanche and say the suspect could face several charges, including fleeing the scene of an accident.

(Copyright (c) 2010 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)