Man dead after hit and run, cops ask for help

SEE VIDEO http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/08/17/hit-and-run-leaves-man-critically-hurt

A Stratford family is devastated after a 22-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Bronson Ave. early Wednesday.

Emergency crews got the call at 3:18 a.m. for a young man found unconscious and bleeding near Somerset Ave. W., on the outskirts of Chinatown.

Dan Miller, 22 — the youngest of Robert and Kim Miller’s four children — died at the Ottawa Hospital several hours later.

“He was very loved by his family and he loved his family back,” Miller’s oldest brother, Rob, said at the front door of the family home in Stratford Wednesday afternoon.

Miller and a friend were returning from a club show when tragedy struck.

Rob said he spoke to his brother’s “traumatized” friend, who told him “the car came out of absolutely nowhere” and hit Miller as he was crossing the street.

“He hit him and just kept going,” Rob said.

People in the area told the Sun Miller flew about 50 ft. after being struck.

He wound up in front of 332 Bronson, where James Malek is part of a construction crew working on the home.

“There was a pool of blood right there, right in front of the house,” he said, pointing to a spot on the pavement.

“It’s really sad to think that someone would hit someone and just run away like that,” said Malek.

A woman living in the house apparently made the 911 call.

Miller was unconscious and suffering from “major injuries,” according to paramedic spokesman Andre Gignac.

Miller, who went to Stratford Central Secondary School, moved to Ottawa around the time he turned 21 in March 2010.

He was looking for adventure and culture, said his other big brother, Eric.

The fan of punk music played guitar and drums and was in a few groups.

Miller had only returned to Ottawa last week. He spent a month with family in his hometown following the death of his grandmother Barbara Miller in July.

Miller’s parents immediately drove to Ottawa Wednesday morning but were too devastated to make the journey back to Stratford. One of Miller’s uncles was flying from Barrie to Ottawa to drive them home.

Miller’s brothers appealed for the driver to come forward — for his own sake.

“When a guilty conscience sets in you’ll want to be free of that,” Rob said.

Police are asking the public to help find the driver.

The car is a dark Nissan sedan with damage to the front end or passenger side.

It was last seen heading southbound on Bronson Ave.

Anyone with information can call the traffic collision investigation section at 613-236-1222 ext. 2481 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.

— With files from Brian Shypula, QMI Agency

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