Annapolis Police Announce Arrest of Driver in Connection with December 2022 Hit & Run Accident

The driver who allegedly struck a pedestrian and left the accident scene in December has been arrested and charged. 

According to an online fundraiser, 61 year old James 'Sammy' Keller (shown above), was the victim of a hit-and-run accident on Friday evening December 30th. "He was crossing Chesapeake Ave at State St in Eastport when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. Kelly was taken to an area hospital in critical condition."

On June 15, 2023, Annapolis Police arrested Jerome Dears, 39, of Annapolis. Dears is being charged with Failure to stop a vehicle at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, Failure to immediately return and remain at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, Failure of a driver involved in an accident to render reasonable assistance to an injured person, Failure for a vehicle driver in an accident to report bodily injury, death, attended vehicle damage, or property damage to the nearest police, Causing serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual while operating a motor vehicle in violation of title 21, Reckless driving, and negligent driving. 

Dears is being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center without bond. 

An update posted to the fundraiser profile indicates that in February, Mr. Keller was moved from the hospital to a rehab for continued treatment.  

***Any suspects/arrested/charged individuals and persons of interest named in the articles are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.***