[StBernard] Chalmette man victim of hit and run; driver thought he struck traffic cone

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette man victim of hit and run; driver thought he struck traffic cone
Published: Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 5:05 PM     Updated: Wednesday, April
27, 2011, 5:06 PM
 By Jim Derry, The Times-Picayune 
A 53-year-old Chalmette man remained in stable, but critical, condition
Wednesday at University Hospital after being struck by a hit-and-run driver
while riding his bicycle over the weekend in Slidell, police said.

Cornelious Stafford
The victim, whose name was not released, was riding his bike Saturday
alongside U.S. 11 near Brown's Switch Road when he was hit by a black 2007
Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Cornelious Stafford of Slidell,
according to police.
The victim suffered head injuries and several broken bones and was
transferred to University from Slidell Memorial Hospital due to the severity
of his injuries, police said.
After a short investigation, Stafford, 38, was arrested Sunday at his home,
which is less than a mile from the scene of the accident. According to
police, Stafford said he thought he struck a traffic cone and was unaware
that he hit a person on a bicycle.