A motorist hit a man on a busy Brooklyn Park street after dark and took off, leaving the victim with critical injuries, authorities said Wednesday.

The hit-and-run crash occurred shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of County Road 81 and 71st Avenue N, police said.

Witnesses said they saw a dark-colored sedan striking the man while traveling south on County Road 81. The car kept going, they said.

The victim was hospitalized and was in "very critical condition", Deputy Police Chief Mark Bruley said late Wednesday morning. Authorities have yet to release the man's identity.

There is no video surveillance at the intersection, but investigators are "going down the road looking" at video in hopes of spotting the damaged vehicle in the moments after the crash, Bruley said.

Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding the driver and the car involved, which "should have damage to the front end," a statement from police read. Anyone with information is urged to call police at 763-493-8222.

Paul Walsh