Driver Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run of 84-Year-Old in Wheelchair Crossing Birmingham Road

A suspect has been charged in the hit-and-run that killed an 84-year-old Birmingham man in a wheelchair on his way home from church.

Sammus Hikeem Strickland, 27, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or injury. The victim, Erwin Ellis Curtis, was struck on Messer Airport Highway at Georgia Road at 10:58 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, which was Father’s Day.

Curtis was crossing the street when he was hit by a vehicle. The driver, identified as Strickland in court documents, fled the scene.

“At 84 years old, Uncle Erwin was a pillar of strength, love, and wisdom for us all,’’ said his niece, Ilsa Curtis. “His presence filled our lives with joy, guidance, and cherished memories.”

Strickland was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 2:41 p.m. Thursday and released at 4:58 p.m. after posting a $15,000 bond.

After the crash, Erwin called Ilsa from the scene. He was reluctant to go to the hospital, but she insisted. He sustained bleeding on the brain and was placed in a medically-induced coma. Ilsa, who lives in New Jersey, spoke with her uncle every Sunday, and that Father's Day was their last conversation.

“He was a family-oriented man – everyone in the family catered to him because he was our patriarch,’’ Ilsa said. “He was our legacy.”

Erwin worked all his life and retired from Coca-Cola.

“You don’t just throw someone like him away,’’ she said of the hit-and-run.

“Though we grieve his loss deeply, we find solace in knowing that Uncle Erwin is now in the arms of the Lord,’’ Ilsa added. “His spirit will live on in each of us, guiding us with his wisdom and love. We trust in God’s plan, even when it’s hard to understand, and we lean on Him for strength during this difficult time.”