Hit and run leaves man out $1,000

Monday, December 12, 2011

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Diane Wilson
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FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Retired Army Colonel Jack Cox was sitting in his SUV at the intersection of Bragg Blvd and Santa Fe Drive in May when another driver plowed into him.

"Waiting for the light to change and the car hit me from the back," said Cox, who spent 30 years in the military. "So I turned the engine off, got out of the car, and as I got out, he took off."

Thinking quickly, Cox got the man's license plate number and called police. The officer who responded told him who the car belonged to.

"He already checked license plate number," said Cox. He knew it belonged to this rental agency, and they were going to take care of it."

Cox said the car belonged to R&W Rental & Auto Sales in Dunn. A police report shows the company refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Cox also filed a claim with his insurance company which also said it had trouble getting information from R&W and its insurance company.

"Just weren't helping at all, refused to help in the investigation," said Cox.

But the former military man wasn't taking no for an answer and took it a step further.

"So I wrote the governor a letter and she wrote me back within five days saying have your letter Mr. Cox. I sent it off to the Attorney General. I've asked him to respond," said Cox.

But he didn't get promising news from Roy Cooper's office.

"This is a private matter. We can't do anything for you. You need to file a small claims court," Cox said he was told.

Frustrated, the retired colonel turned to me.

"I got tired of waiting, so I went to you," said Cox. "I watch you on TV. You're a lovely lady. You pursue things for people like me - the little people," said Cox.

I got in touch with the owner of R&W. He said he thought his insurance company took care of the claim. Asked if he cooperated with police, he said he never got a call from anyone from the police department.

The owner also said he would get in touch with the insurance company and if it doesn't reimburse Cox for the damage, he would personally do it.

"If it hadn't been for you, it wouldn't have happened. You are the sole reason it happened," Cox told us.

The owner of R&W apologized and added he didn't know why his insurance company didn't take care of it, as he said he was assured it would be.