KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Prosecutor's office announced Tuesday that an Independence man has been charged with the June 16 hit-and-run that caused a woman to lose her leg.
Christopher D. Wilson, 41, of Independence faces felony charges of second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident after he lost control of his vehicle on Benton Boulevard and struck the woman who was trying to get into her car near 31st Street in Kansas City, Missouri.
Surveillance video and witness testimony from the area of the hit-and-run led police to the brown 1972 Chevrolet Caprice with gold trim and wheels. A vehicle matching the description had participated in a car show the evening before, which allowed investigators to located images of the license plates and link the vehicle to Wilson.
Witnesses identified Wilson as the driver once the connection was made.
Rosilyn Temple, a well-known area anti-violence activist and member of KC Mothers in Charge, said after the accident that her daughter was the victim.
She said that her 36-year-old daughter LaShanda Temple had been hit by a car at 31st and Benton around 4 a.m.
"They stopped, got out and said, 'Is she okay?' Got back in the car and drove off. They didn't stop, basically," Temple said after the incident.
Doctors had to amputate one of LaShanda's legs below the knee. She also broke the other leg and faced several procedures.
Wilson was taken into custody on Monday and prosecutors requested a $75,000 bond.
