Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Police have found the owner of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning.

However, they have not identified the owner of the 1983 Porsche 911 convertible, which struck 44-year-old Jerry Bryant at 1 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street. Bryant underwent surgery at Yampa Valley Medical Center Monday and was released from the hospital Tuesday.

When police contacted the owner of the Porsche, he referred all questions to his attorney, Tim Oliphant.

"I have had some conversations with police, but as far as I know, my client has made no statement to police," Oliphant said. "That doesn't imply that he has any guilt in the matter."

No arrests have been made. Police do not know if the owner of the vehicle was driving the car at the time of the incident and do not have any witnesses who can identify the driver. Oliphant would not say if his client was driving the Porsche when the accident occurred.

"I need to get a few more pieces of the puzzle before I can make an arrest," Detective Dave Kleiber said.

Police have canvassed the area surrounding the intersection where the accident occurred, Kleiber said. "We have been doing a lot of interviews and showing photographs (of the car)," he said.

The Porsche was traveling west on Lincoln when it hit Bryant, who was crossing the avenue. Bryant apparently landed on the hood of the vehicle, shattered the windshield and then fell to the street where he lay until help arrived. The Porsche sped away from the scene and turned onto Eighth Street.

Police found the damaged vehicle parked in front of Antares restaurant at 57 1/2 Eighth Street shortly after the accident, police said.

Kleiber said it was not difficult to find the car owner once they started the investigation. The hard part will be proving his guilt or innocence.

According to Yampa Valley Medical Center spokesperson Christine McElvie, Jerry Bryant was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon in good condition.

"I saw him this morning," Kleiber said of Bryant. "He is pretty happy to be going home and he is pretty happy to be alive."

Bryant has referred all questions to his attorney, Gerald Young. Young said Bryant faces more surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn medial collateral ligament in his knee.

Police do not know what role, if any, alcohol played in the incident. Young would not say what his client was doing downtown early Sunday morning.

Bryant recently moved to Steamboat from Hayden with his wife and 12-year-old daughter. He works as a meat cutter at Safeway in Steamboat.

"He's only worked three shifts," meat manager Keith Barnett said. "As far as I'm concerned he still has his job, but I hear he's going to be out for at least six weeks."

Kleiber said police are still looking for information on the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call Routt County Crime Stoppers at 870-6226 or the Steamboat Springs Police Department at 879-1144. Callers to Crime Stoppers do not have to reveal their names and may be eligible for a cash reward if their information helps police solve the case.

However, they have not identified the owner of the 1983 Porsche 911 convertible, which struck 44-year-old Jerry Bryant at 1 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street. Bryant underwent surgery at Yampa Valley Medical Center Monday and was released from the hospital Tuesday.

When police contacted the owner of the Porsche, he referred all questions to his attorney, Tim Oliphant.

"I have had some conversations with police, but as far as I know, my client has made no statement to police," Oliphant said. "That doesn't imply that he has any guilt in the matter."

No arrests have been made. Police do not know if the owner of the vehicle was driving the car at the time of the incident and do not have any witnesses who can identify the driver. Oliphant would not say if his client was driving the Porsche when the accident occurred.

"I need to get a few more pieces of the puzzle before I can make an arrest," Detective Dave Kleiber said.

Police have canvassed the area surrounding the intersection where the accident occurred, Kleiber said. "We have been doing a lot of interviews and showing photographs (of the car)," he said.

The Porsche was traveling west on Lincoln when it hit Bryant, who was crossing the avenue. Bryant apparently landed on the hood of the vehicle, shattered the windshield and then fell to the street where he lay until help arrived. The Porsche sped away from the scene and turned onto Eighth Street.

Police found the damaged vehicle parked in front of Antares restaurant at 57 1/2 Eighth Street shortly after the accident, police said.

Kleiber said it was not difficult to find the car owner once they started the investigation. The hard part will be proving his guilt or innocence.

According to Yampa Valley Medical Center spokesperson Christine McElvie, Jerry Bryant was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon in good condition.

"I saw him this morning," Kleiber said of Bryant. "He is pretty happy to be going home and he is pretty happy to be alive."

Bryant has referred all questions to his attorney, Gerald Young. Young said Bryant faces more surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn medial collateral ligament in his knee.

Police do not know what role, if any, alcohol played in the incident. Young would not say what his client was doing downtown early Sunday morning.

Bryant recently moved to Steamboat from Hayden with his wife and 12-year-old daughter. He works as a meat cutter at Safeway in Steamboat.

"He's only worked three shifts," meat manager Keith Barnett said. "As far as I'm concerned he still has his job, but I hear he's going to be out for at least six weeks."

Kleiber said police are still looking for information on the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call Routt County Crime Stoppers at 870-6226 or the Steamboat Springs Police Department at 879-1144. Callers to Crime Stoppers do not have to reveal their names and may be eligible for a cash reward if their information helps police solve the case.