Detectives in Sylva are hunting for an unknown driver who struck a pedestrian and sped off into the night. The hit-and-run happened during the quiet early morning hours of Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Emergency crews received a 911 call at 2:46 a.m. about a man hit by a vehicle along US 23 Business. Officers arrived near 74 Sylva Plaza and found victim James Robert Bagley III lying in the roadway with fatal injuries.
Investigators say the driver left the scene immediately without stopping to help or notify authorities. Police are treating the crash as a felony hit-and-run and are using every tool available to find the car involved.
The Sylva Police Department called in collision reconstruction specialists from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Experts are analyzing vehicle debris, tire marks, and road evidence to figure out the speed and make of the suspect vehicle.
Officers are also visiting nearby businesses along the US 23 Business strip. They are collecting security camera tapes from store fronts to track every car that passed through the area around 2:45 a.m.
Multiple agencies joined the response, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Sylva Fire Department, and WestCare EMS. Police Chief Aimee Sumner stated that finding the hit-and-run driver is currently the department’s top priority.
Authorities are asking the public to look out for vehicles with fresh front-end or windshield damage. Anyone with information about the crash or the missing vehicle should contact Sylva Police at (828) 586-2916 or Jackson County Communications at (828) 586-1911.
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