AKRON, Ohio -- A Bath man faces felony charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Akron’s northwest side.

Monte V. Porter III, 56, is charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-skip, according to Akron Municipal Court records.

Porter is accused of driving a 2018 Toyota Rav 4 northbound on the 700 block of Merriman Road just after 7 a.m. on March 3, Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said in a news release.

Ernest Liska, 73, was on the sidewalk near his driveway retrieving the Sunday newspaper when Porter drove left of center, struck the curb, drove into a tree and then struck Liska, Edwards said. The SUV then hit a light post and sped away, Edwards said.

Paramedics brought Liska to Cleveland Clinic Akron General where he died, Edwards said.

The next day, officers found the SUV unoccupied about 3 miles away on the 2400 block of Akron-Peninsula Road, Edwards said previously.

Investigators identified Porter as a suspect and arrested him Wednesday afternoon at his home, Edwards told cleveland.com.

Porter is in custody at the Summit County Jail. Edwards said police expect additional traffic charges to be filed.

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