Rochester Motorist Accused of Striking Pedestrian then Fleeing Scene

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester motorist has been charged for striking a pedestrian then fleeing the scene. 

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The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday, says Rochester police responded to the traffic incident on the afternoon of March 22 last year.

Arriving officers encountered an injured pedestrian. 

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Rochester Man Charged for Striking Pedestrian Then Fleeing Scene

Police responded to the vehicle pedestrian collision at the junction of an alley that runs behind the Midas store location along North Broadway Ave. and 13th St. NW. 

The victim told officers he was hit by a car that was exiting the alley and that the driver fled the scene, the complaint says. The victim said he hit his head and suffered scrapes on his hands and knees. 

He was transported by ambulance to a hospital where he stayed overnight for treatment of four cracked ribs, a bruised lung and neck injury, the complaint says. 

Using security camera footage, officers obtained the license plate of the suspect vehicle and identified its owner as 33-year-old Joshua Dean Plut. 

Police then interviewed Plut who admitted to driving the car on the day of the vehicle-pedestrian collision and said he thought his car, “hit a curb or something but nothing more," the complaint says. 

An officer told Plut the incident was on video and Plut told the officer, "If I do remember, I think the person hit the side of my car," the complaint says.

Court records indicate Plut has been convicted of two impaired driving offenses in the past 10 years. He is charged by summons with a count of felony criminal vehicular operation. 

The court document indicates a system error prevented the case from being charged sooner. Plut’s first court appearance has not yet been scheduled.