Police looking for driver who hit runner, left her in a ditch

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP | Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who severely injured a runner and left her by the side of the road.

Porter County sheriff's police said Gabrielle Bigman, 21, of Liberty Township, suffered a compound fracture to her right ankle, a dislocated shoulder and two fractured vertebrae in her neck after being struck by a vehicle.

About 9:45 p.m. Monday, officers were called to the 1000 block of North County Road 200 West, where a 47-year-old Porter woman said she and her husband were driving northbound about 9:25 p.m., when she heard screaming. She said they turned around and found Bigman on the east side of the road in a ditch. The woman immediately called for help.

Bigman reportedly told officers she was running home, southbound on County Road 200 West. She said after that, all she remembered was that she awoke in a ditch along the side of the road, screaming in pain.

Police said the woman was taken to Porter hospital in Valparaiso for her injuries.

At the scene, officers and firefighters found a number of car parts police believe may be from the vehicle that hit Bigman.

Police said they recovered a passenger-side mirror with a Honda imprint on the bottom, along with what appeared to be an orange plastic piece from a headlight assembly and a thin black plastic piece about 2-feet long with a Honda imprint, apparently used to frame the windows of a 1992 to 1995 four-door Honda Civic.

Sgt. Larry LaFlower said as of Tuesday afternoon, Bigman remained in intensive care at Porter hospital.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Porter County Sheriff's Department Detective Bureau at (219) 477-3141.