Local

Hit-and-run victim making slow recovery; still no arrest in case

ATLANTA — Two months after a hit-and-run driver left a midtown man severely injured, friends and family members said the man is making a slow recovery.

Alejandro Palombini, 22, was riding his motorcycle on Roswell Road at Interstate 285 June 30, police said, when a white Jeep Cherokee hit him and took off.

"He's lost a piece of his life," said best friend Pablo Mario Calvo. "He's never going to be the same."

Calvo told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik that Palombini is recovering at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, undergoing intense therapy.

"Unfortunately there's paralysis on the whole left side of his face," he said. "He's completely lost all hearing in his left ear and will have another surgery in a couple of weeks to implant a prosthetic bone to cover his brain."

Calvo said the friend who could once talk religion and philosophy for hours can now barely remember his name.

"It's extremely heartbreaking," he said.

Police told Petchenik they are still tracking down leads to find the driver, but have not made any arrests.

Their best clue remains a surveillance picture of the jeep leaving the Mosaic Apartments on Roswell Road in the moments before the incident.

"You almost took his life away, and the fact that you can't man up to your actions and realize 'I messed up, I'm going to pay for what I did and come to justice,' it's just really sad," Calvo said of the driver.

Palombini's stepfather, Luis Ramos, told Petchenik he is hopeful a $5,000 reward will entice someone to come forward.

"Sooner or later you are going to fall into the hands of justice, and it's better that you turn in by yourself, and avoid a big punishment, because you are facing a lot of charges," Ramos said.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.