A Rhode Island police officer is getting praise for his role in identifying a man thought to be responsible for a recent car accident that injured a pedestrian. The hit and run accident happened on Christmas Day. The man allegedly ran his car into a woman crossing the street and then left without stopping to assess her condition or offer assistance.

Reports show the police officer saw a vehicle that corresponded with the description of a car that had been involved in a hit and run accident earlier that morning. The vehicle also had visible damage to its front end. That damage matched the description given by witnesses who had seen the incident occur.

When the suspect saw the police car, he quickly turned into a nearby business park. The police officer waited in a parking lot that the man would eventually have to drive by. Instead of continuing down the roadway, the man stopped and talked to the police officer about the accident that had occurred.

The police officer started a conversation with the man -- asking him specifics about the hit and run. By keeping him talking, the police officer was able to determine the man had likely been responsible for the accident. He was then taken into custody.

The man faces a felony charge for leaving the area where the accident occurred. He is scheduled to appear in a Rhode Island court in early spring. The woman he allegedly ran into is undergoing treatment at a local hospital for fractured bones. An update on her condition was not available at the time of this report.

Any time a pedestrian is hit by a car, it is not unusual for that person to suffer serious injury. The woman in this hit and run accident may have the grounds for further legal action in the form of a personal injury lawsuit. If she elects to pursue litigation and is able to prove that the man negligently caused the collision that resulted in her injuries, she may be entitled to an award of monetary damages that could go a long way in helping her to recover and heal.

Source: The Woonsocket Call, Lincoln officer's conversational skills help nab hit-and-run suspect, Russ Olivo, Dec. 26, 2013