Three sisters are seeking justice for their brother who was killed in a hit-and-run over the weekend.
Dallas police said 66-year-old James Watkins died at the scene of 4900 Dolphin Road early Saturday morning after the driver who hit him did not stop to help.
Watkins’s sisters told NBC 5 their phones started ringing overnight before the sun came up, and they’ve been trying to come to terms with the news ever since.
Joyce Watkins said, as the oldest, she helped raise her siblings. When the phone rang with tragic news about her brother James, she couldn’t believe it.
“She said, ‘Somebody hit our brother.’ I said, ‘Oh Lord.’ She said, “Our brother is dead.’ I said, ‘Jesus Christ,’” said Watkins.
NBC 5 News
NBC 5 News
James Watkins
Dallas police responded to the call at about 4:10 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found Watkins on the ground.
His sisters said he was so badly injured, they weren’t allowed to see his body. But a witness near the collision scene at the time told one of the sisters what had just unfolded.
“All she heard was ‘boom!’ She said when she looked up and jumped out of her car. She said she took off running over there. She went to see him, and she said, ‘I don’t even want to tell you,’” said James’ sister, Brenda Calvin.
Police are looking for the driver of a small white car. They did not release the make or model but said the car was missing a bumper, which was left at the scene.
“It’s very hard that they hit him like that and hurt him, and took him away,” said sister, Shelia Calvin. “But it hurts so bad because that’s the only brother we had left.”
NBC 5 News
NBC 5 News
James Watkins’s three sisters want justice for their brother, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash.
They said James Watkins was born and raised in South Dallas, and it’s a loss felt by others in the community.
“It’s so, so many people talking about James. That know him,” said Calvin.
They said they defended their brother growing up and will continue to fight for justice following his death.
They have a message for the person responsible.
“Will you come forward?” Joyce Watkins pleaded. “Y’all took something away from us that was very valuable to us. The only brother that we had. So please come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dallas police at 214-671-0787 or 214-744-4444.