St. Paul hit-and-run victim also a victim of shutdown

A 31-year-old man who was found unconscious in a St. Paul intersection last week will face a long recovery.

At a news conference Monday afternoon at Regions Hospital, the family of Wade Souster asked whoever was responsible for the hit-and-run accident that left the St. Paul man with life-threatening injuries to turn themselves in and for anyone else who has information to call police.

"They've gotten a lot of tips and we need more. Little pieces of sand can build a sand castle and that's what we need in Wade's case," said Angie Hammerlindl, Souster's cousin.

Souster is unconscious and on a ventilator at the hospital. He's suffered brain injuries, pelvic and facial fractures, bruised lungs and a broken leg, said Dr. David Dries.

"He's looking at a long and difficult recovery," Dries said.

It also has been unusually hard to get a benefit fund set up for Souster because the government shutdown has prevented the family from obtaining a tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service, which is needed in order to set up a benefit account in his name at a bank, Hammerlindl said.

"To get stuck in politics is really hard in this situation," she said.

Police believe the suspect vehicle was a dark colored car. The car involved could have fresh damage to the front, possibly on the driver's side.

"I'm pleading to whoever did this, please come forward. … People make mistakes. Don't make it worse by hiding or covering it up," said Sandy Romero, Souster's mother, in a ­prepared statement.

Souster grew up in Inver Grove Heights but was living in the Lake Phalen area. He's single and comes from a large family. Souster is a longtime employee of the Downtowner Car Wash in St. Paul. The carwash is offering $2,500 for information leading to a criminal conviction.

Anyone with information can call police at 651-266-5722.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495