After months of investigation, Hamilton police have arrested a suspect in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a pedestrian last October.
The incident occurred on October 19 when a 46-year-old man was struck while crossing at the intersection of Main Street and Wentworth Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Witnesses reported that the driver briefly stopped before fleeing the scene, leaving the victim with catastrophic injuries.
I spoke with Detective Sergeant Mark Williams of Hamilton Police Service’s Collision Reconstruction Unit who confirmed the arrest yesterday following what he described as “painstaking forensic work and community cooperation.”
“This case demonstrates why we never close the book on hit-and-run investigations,” Williams said. “Even months later, evidence can come together to bring closure to families who’ve lost loved ones.”
Court documents I’ve reviewed show the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Michael Renwick, faces multiple charges including dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, failure to stop at the scene of an accident involving death, and public mischief for allegedly attempting to report the vehicle stolen after the collision.
The breakthrough came after surveillance footage from three businesses near the crash site was enhanced by forensic technicians, revealing partial license plate information that investigators matched with vehicle registration records from the Ministry of Transportation.
Linda Crompton, the victim’s sister, expressed mixed emotions about the arrest when we spoke by phone. “It won’t bring my brother back, but at least someone is being held accountable,” she said. “For months, we’ve wondered if this day would ever come.”
According to statistics from Transport Canada, hit-and-run collisions involving pedestrian fatalities have increased by 17% in Ontario over the past five years, with nearly a third of cases remaining unsolved.
Criminal defense attorney Melissa Santos, who is not involved in the case, explained that sentences for fatal hit-and-runs typically range from 2 to 14 years, depending on aggravating factors such as impairment, previous driving record, and attempts to conceal evidence.
“The flight from the scene often results in more severe penalties than the collision itself,” Santos noted. “Courts view abandoning victims without rendering aid as a significant breach of our social contract.”
Police credit a tip from a local auto body shop employee who became suspicious when Renwick allegedly sought repairs for front-end damage consistent with a pedestrian collision. The employee contacted police after seeing media coverage of the investigation.
Renwick was denied bail during his first court appearance this morning at the John Sopinka Courthouse in downtown Hamilton. His next court date is scheduled for May 12.
A roadside memorial of flowers and photos remains at the intersection where the collision occurred, maintained by neighborhood residents who’ve been advocating for improved pedestrian safety measures in the area.
This case highlights the effectiveness of the Hamilton Police Service’s cold case approach to unsolved traffic fatalities, which includes regular public appeals and coordination with auto repair businesses throughout the region.
Family members plan to attend future court proceedings and have expressed gratitude to investigators who maintained contact throughout the lengthy investigation.
“No family should have to wait five months for answers,” Crompton said. “But we’re thankful for the detectives who never gave up.”
