Chester police I.D. officer injured in hit-and-run

CHESTER -- Chester police are asking for the public's help in their search for the hit-and-run driver that struck an officer on a motorcycle Friday afternoon.

Police are searching for a late '90s or early 2000s burgundy Pontiac, possibly a Grand Prix, with a green hood and green trunk.

Police identified the officer Friday night as Daniel Hoffman.

Hoffman suffered scrapes to his knuckles and knees, but will be OK, police said.

Hoffman was riding a motorcycle around 2:48 p.m. Friday when the driver of a car made an illegal left turn, clipped the officer, and then took off.

Hoffman fell off and the bike kept going, hitting a SUV, police said.

Investigators said the striking vehicle fled toward Industrial Highway.

Police Commissioner Joseph Bail said the hit-and-run driver is aware of what he did.

"You can't miss these motorcycles. When a bike goes down and goes 30 to 40 feet and the officer goes down, you have to know what's happened," said Bail.

Police shut down the intersection of East 4th and Morton streets for two hours as detectives investigated.

The motorcycle was later towed away.

Chester Mayor John Linder is pleading for the driver to turn him or herself in.

"They still have a chance, they can come turn themselves in and make it easier on everybody, especially them, if they come in and do the responsible thing," said Linder.

Hoffman is being kept overnight at Crozer Chester Medical Center for observation.