TEXARKANA, Texas – The Texarkana Texas Police Department (TTPD) is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a suspect wanted in connection with a serious hit-and-run collision that occurred in late December.
Police have identified the suspect as 36-year-old Zachary Sanders, who is also known to use the alias Zachary Upchurch. He is currently wanted for Leaving the Scene of a Collision Involving Personal Injury.
The incident took place on December 28 on North Stateline Avenue. According to investigators, a woman was struck by a vehicle and sustained serious injuries. Authorities noted that while her injuries were severe, they are thankfully not life-threatening.
A Deceptive Escape According to the TTPD, Sanders’ actions following the crash were particularly brazen. Investigators say Sanders initially stopped his vehicle and exited to check on the injured woman. However, he abruptly returned to his car and fled the scene.
Police later discovered that Sanders had multiple outstanding warrants in both Texas and Arkansas, which authorities believe likely motivated him to flee.
In an attempt to further evade capture, Sanders reportedly called 911 shortly after fleeing. He told dispatchers that he was chasing the vehicle that had hit the woman, claiming he was traveling in the opposite direction of his actual route. The attempt to mislead officers failed when the dispatcher noticed that the GPS location of the phone Sanders was using did not match the location he was reporting.
Sanders’ wrecked vehicle was subsequently located at a residence in Miller County, Arkansas, but the suspect remains at large.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Zachary Sanders (Upchurch) to come forward.