Apparently, Edward Byrne suffered from a guilty conscience.
Eight hours after Byrne allegedly struck an Amish man with his vehicle in Ephrata and then drove off Wednesday, he showed up at the local police station.
He had seen an online news report about the hit-and-run crash and wanted to come clean, according to Ephrata police Lt. Chris McKim.
Byrne told police he was driving the sport utility vehicle that struck David Stoltzfus as he was riding his scooter in the 700 block of East Main Street in Ephrata Township.
Police had released a request for information about the crash from witnesses after the 6:45 a.m. incident that left the 36-year-old Stoltzfus with a broken leg and other injuries.
Stoltzfus, of Hahnstown Road, was seriously injured but is expected to recover, according to investigators. He is being treated at Lancaster General Hospital and was in fair condition Wednesday night, according to a nursing supervisor.
After his confession, Byrne was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury and two traffic violations, police said.
McKim said while confessions aren't uncommon, they usually don't happen so fast.
"We are pleased to have such a serious offense quickly resolved," McKim said. "We're certainly pleased that the person responsible for the accident came forward."
Witnesses told police a Dodge Durango, which they described as either maroon or green, was westbound when it veered onto the road's shoulder and struck Stoltzfus, who was riding a foot scooter.
The impact knocked Stoltzfus off the scooter, investigators said, and the SUV continued west on Main Street.
Accounts from witnesses and evidence collected at the scene indicated the hit-and-run driver was in an older-model Durango. The impact damaged the SUV's right front side, a side mirror and front light, police determined.
Hours after releasing the information to media outlets, Byrne walked into the Ephrata police station.
He was released and is expected to be arraigned this morning.
E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com