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Suspect in East Alton hit-and-run at large after police recover their truck

The vehicle was believed to be connected to a hit-and-run Tuesday night that left a man dead.

EAST ALTON, Ill. — Alta Gleason says she doesn't know how the driver who struck and killed her only child two days ago without stopping can sleep at night.

"Someone came and hit him and just kept on going and did not stop to see if he was okay or even checked to see who they hit or what they hit," said Alta Gleason, whose 52-year-old son John Gleason was killed.

Late Wednesday, East Alton detectives got their biggest break in the case so far. They found the tan truck they believe is connected to the deadly hit-and-run Tuesday night, but the driver is not yet in custody.

Gleason was walking near the 600 block of Powder Mill Road around 7 p.m. when he was hit, police said. Security workers at the nearby Winchester Ammunition facility heard the collision and another driver who saw Gleason in the road called 911.

Credit: Christine Byers/KSDK
The truck suspected in the fatal hit-and-run.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: East Alton police ask public for leads after fatal hit-and-run Tuesday evening

The driver of the truck never stopped, according to Police Chief Scott Golike.

"We now have custody of that truck, currently preparing a search warrant on that truck, and we're involved in chasing down leads associated to the offending driver at the time of that crash," Golike said.

Gleason was pronounced dead at the scene.

He is survived by his mother, six children and eight grandchildren.

"I sure never thought my son would go before me," Alta Gleason said. "I just want the guy to come forward or the woman, whoever hit him please come forward so the family can have closure."  

Her son was her only child, and moved in with her to help her after her husband died from cancer about five years ago. She said he loved the outdoors, and loved to "go junking" with his cousin who lives on the same street. 

"One man's trash is another man's treasure, that was my dad," said Chasey Gleason, John Gleason's only daughter. 

He also walked almost everywhere he went. On the night he was killed, he was walking home after visiting his mother's sister. 

That stretch of road is fairly isolated, with the ammunition facility being the only industry there. 

"The not knowing is what's driving us all crazy," Chasey Gleason said. "We just want to be able to move past this and move on with our grieving process."

Golike agrees.

"The sooner he come in to talk about it, the better off it will be for him," Golike said. "We’d like to hear his side of the story for sure.

"This man has family. He has a mother and siblings and cousins and uncles and aunts that are really hurting with the unanswered questions at this time. I think it’s time to have the decency to own up to what you did and maybe give them some closure so they can move on."

Anyone with information about the crash or the truck's owner was asked to call authorities at 618-259-6212 or 618-251-3113.

This is a developing story. This article will be updated with the latest information.

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