A late-night walk ended in tragedy along US 23 Business early Sunday morning. James Robert Bagley III was walking near 74 Sylva Plaza when a vehicle struck him and drove away. He died on the road before help could save him.
The call came in to dispatchers around 2:46 a.m. on August 2, 2026. Someone driving by saw a body lying in the street and called for help. Officers and medical teams rushed to the scene right away.
When paramedics arrived, they found Bagley suffering from severe physical trauma. They tried everything they could to keep him alive. Sadly, his injuries were too massive, and medics pronounced him dead right on the pavement.
The driver who hit Bagley never tapped the brakes. Instead of pulling over to render aid or calling 911, the person behind the wheel sped off into the darkness, leaving a man dying on the asphalt.
The sudden loss has shattered Bagley’s family and shocked the tight-knit community. Friends and neighbors are left trying to make sense of a quiet night turned into a nightmare.
Sylva Police Chief Aimee Sumner made a direct call to the public for assistance. She urged anyone who knows anything to speak up. “Someone knows something,” Sumner said. She added that even tiny details could help bring justice to Bagley’s family.
Local police, state troopers, and county deputies are working around the clock on this case. Anyone who saw a damaged car in the area or has information can call Sylva Police at (828) 586-2916 or Jackson County Communications at (828) 586-1911. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online.
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