‘My heart sank’: 89-year-old grandfather of 7 killed in hit-and-run while walking to church

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) - A Nebraska family is remembering their grandfather who was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Tuesday morning.

Walter Tighe, 89, loved his family, including his seven grandchildren, and his faith.

According to his granddaughter, Kassie Tighe, it was faith that was on his mind in the last moments of his life.

The 89-year-old was crossing West Center Road that day when a silver truck hit him, police said.

Medics declared Walter Tighe dead at the scene while the truck involved ended up taking off.

The Tighe family said he was walking to church, as he usually did, when the crash occurred.

“My heart sank,” Kassie Tighe said when she heard the news. “He stopped driving in 2018, so of course he was going to walk. He was healthy as a horse, walking four miles a day.”

Walter Tighe was just two blocks from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, a destination he would visit at least twice a day.

“He went out of this world with the same amount of love he came in with,” Kassie Tighe said.

She hopes the person responsible for taking the life of her loving grandfather comes forward.

“There’s no other feeling besides anger,” Kassie Tighe said regarding the driver still being sought by police. “You left a man in the street.”

Police are urging anyone with further information to contact them at 402-444-5600.

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