Photo: Jeff Kan Lee, Press Democrat

The troubling photo you see above is what was left of a man’s wheelchair after he was hit by a driver early this morning in a crosswalk at the intersection of Guerneville Road and Range Avenue near the Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa. The 24-year-old driver initially fled the scene but returned a short while later with his father, according to the Press Democrat, which, despite the gruesome visual evidence and the fact the wheelchair user was in a crosswalk, still calls the event an "accident":

The victim was apparently southbound in a crosswalk on the east side
of the intersection of Guerneville Road and Range Avenue shortly after
6 a.m. when he was hit and his crumpled chair thrust clear across the
intersection where he was ejected onto the pavement, police said.

His
shoes, a knit hat, a canvas bag and other belongings were flung across
the intersection, interspersed with broken headlights bits, a license
plate and other car parts.

A passing semi driver came upon the
scene in what would have been the dark before dawn and reported what he
thought was a fallen pedestrian, authorities said.

Police are apparently having trouble finding witnesses. The driver was being interviewed by police but we don’t know yet if he’s been arrested, and whether he’ll face any charges. Last we heard the victim was in surgery.