Kansas City driver charged with hitting bicyclist

Jackson County prosecutors on Tuesday accused a driver of striking a 13-year-old bicyclist in January and dragging the teen 200 feet before fleeing.

Prosecutors charged Sergio Ortiz, 42, of Kansas City, with leaving the scene of an accident, a class D felony, and careless and imprudent driving, a misdemeanor. Ortiz was freed Tuesday because of a delay in filing charges, police said.

The victim, Juan Carlos Portillo, suffered facial and leg injuries but survived.

His sister said she was glad prosecutors filed charges in the case.

“I feel happy because there is justice,” Daysi Discua said. “He should have stopped.” . . .

The accident occurred just before 5 p.m. Jan. 23 on Truman Road near Bennington Avenue. Police said Juan Carlos was riding east on a sidewalk when a maroon pickup truck driving south through a parking lot struck him. The truck continued west onto Truman Road, dragging the teen.

The driver stopped momentarily, steered around Juan Carlos and drove away as witnesses rushed to the wounded boy.