by STAFF | Aug 21, 2013 7:34 am

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Posted to: Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton

The driver of a SUV that dragged a clerk, causing him to flip backwards and slam his head into the ground, has come forward, Shelton police announced Wednesday morning.

The driver is cooperating with police, but no arrests have been made, and police said no arrests in the case are expected Wednesday. Police did not release the driver’s name.

Shelton police on Wednesday afternoon released audio of several 911 calls related to the incident. Story continues after audio.

A group of people in the SUV were allegedly stealing David Hasselhoff advertisements from a light pole outside Cumberland Farms on River Road early Tuesday when the 36-year-old clerk attempted to stop them. The group allegedly drove away, resulting in the man’s injury.

The victim, whose name was not released, is still in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital, police said in a statement.

Hasselhoff tweeted about the incident early Tuesday, saying “I am shocked & truly saddened about the Cumberland Farms store clerk tragedy My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with him and his family!”

“WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW I FEEL AT THIS MOMENT,” Hasselhoff went on. “PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY A PRAYER THAT HE MAKES A FULL RECOVERY!!” THANK YOU…DAVID

Meanwhile, the snarky gossip site Gawker reported Tuesday that the goofy Hasselhoff ads for Cumberland Farms are being stolen all over the place.

Original story from Tuesday morning follows:

A 36-year-old man is in critical condition after being dragged by a SUV in Shelton Tuesday morning.

The victim, an employee of the Cumberland Farms at 819 River Road, was trying to stop a group of people from stealing two David Hasseloff signs from a light pole outside the business.

The victim is in Bridgeport Hospital. His name was not released.

Police received a 911 call at 1:15 a.m. saying a man had been hit by a vehicle in the parking lot.

According to police, a black SUV pulled into the parking lot. The victim spotted a white male get out of the SUV, cut the Hasseloff signs and place them in the back of the vehicle.

The employee approached the SUV to retrieve the signs.

“The vehicle then sped away and the victim was dragged and then he spun around and flipped backward, landing on his head,” according to a statement from police.

The employee suffered a serious head injury.

The vehicle was last seen heading toward Stratford on River Road. Three people were in the SUV — a white male driver, a white female in the front passenger seat and a white male in the back seat.

Detectives are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses.

Police are asking anyone with any information to contact the detective bureau at (203) 924-1544.