Asheville police investigating hit and run at Habitat for Humanity ReStore

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Asheville are police investigating a hit and run at Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Meadow Road near Biltmore Village.

Alan O'Donnell said he and his friend,Joel Jacobson were there looking for a couch.

"We were almost at the store when a car came up behind us and went 'beep'," O'Donnell said. "So, I turned around and I saw a red car stopped. And I'm trying to figure out who it is. And Joel turns around, and then the guy guns his car and runs Joel over."

O'Donnell said when they turned to look at the driver no words were exchanged, but police say otherwise. Police said Jacobson was in the middle of the road yelling at the driver when the driver decided to strike him.

"This whole thing about me turning and Joel turning, it was in a fraction of a second that the guy gunned his car," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell said the car hit his friend so hard that Jacobson landed onto the hood and then rolled off onto the ground.

"Joel didn't have a chance to do anything. Joel didn't talk to him, do anything to him. He just ran Joel over," O'Donnell added.

"It was a red Toyota, like an SUV type, with two white males, older gentlemen in there," O'Donnell said.

Police said when first responders got to the scene, Jacobson refused to be transported by the ambulance.

"He elected to go to his private physician because it's cheaper than going to the ER," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell said he's thankful his friend will be OK, and all he wants is for the driver to be caught and charged.

"This man tried to kill another man, and he tried to kill me, too. If I hadn't been quick enough, he would have got me, too," O'Donnell said.

An Asheville police spokeswoman said they are treating the incident as a hit and run. Police have a "Be on the lookout" issued for the driver's car, but they would not release the tag number.

ReStore employees and O'Donnell said there is surveillance video of the incident, but News 13 is waiting to hear from the Habitat for Humanity communications department if we are allowed to view it.