Haverhill woman Emily Luccarini receives apology from police after error led to brother’s hit-and-run investigation being closed

A senior police officer has apologised to the family of a Haverhill man injured in a hit-and-run collision after an investigation into the incident was mistakenly dropped.

Joe Luccarini, 32, was left with a fractured neck when he was hit by a car in Ehringshausen Way, Haverhill, at about 11.30pm on August 12 last year while walking home from from a barbecue.

The suspect disappeared and although the police launched an investigation, six months later they closed it because of the expiry of the time limit that applies to fail to stop offences.

Joe’s sister, Emily Luccarini, was aghast when she discovered the investigation had been discontinued in February - something she said she only discovered last month.

She pressed for the investigation to be reopened and after the police were made aware of the psychological impact the incident has had on Joe - who has autism and now no longer wants to go out, or cross the road - it was decided two weeks ago to reopen it.

The offence is now being classed as one of causing injury by careless driving, which does not carry any time limit.

Emily, 34, has also received an apology by phone from Chief Inspector Pete Partridge, area commander for West Suffolk, who directed the investigation to be re-opened.

A police spokesman has confirmed the apology was made and that it was made specifically because an opportunity was missed by investigating officers in February, when they called Joe to update him that the offence had expired.

Officers failed to make contact with Joe and therefore missed the chance to find out about the psychological impact on him.

Now the apology has been made and the case reopened, Emily said: “I am happy but it should never have come to this really.”

Now the investigation has been reopened the police are keeping Emily fully up to speed.

“It seems like they are doing everything they possibly can to try and find him,” she explained.

“I spoke to the sergeant that is overseeing the case and I am speaking to her every week.”

The impact of the collision on Joe has been telling, said Emily: “He is not too bad physically. The injuries have healed now but he does suffer with complications from the fracture in his neck but it’s more the psychological impact it’s had on him because he’s autistic and struggles anyway.

“It took years and years of work to build up his independence and get him out in the community independently and we got there and now it’s been completely undone. He’s hardly left the house since it happened.”

Emily continued: “The most important thing for me has always been that I promised my brother, when he was in the hospital, that I would find the person responsible .

“The police messed it up the first time and I hope they don’t mess it up the second time.”

Emily is now working on having a petition launched on the official UK Parliament site calling for a review of the rules around summary offences (those with a time limit) so that the laws are clearer and can not be misapplied, as in Joe’s case.