San Diego

A restaurant employee who was on his way home from work Christmas Eve was struck by a hit-and-run driver on West Mission Bay Drive early Sunday morning, police said, and two men stole the man’s bicycle while he lay in the street waiting for help.

Miguel Rodriguez Plasensiar, 20, was reported in fair condition at Sharp Cabrillo Hospital on Sunday evening after undergoing surgery for a broken leg, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Plasensiar was riding his bicycle in the 1100 block of West Mission Bay Drive about 1 a.m. Sunday when he was caught in a heavy downpour, according to police Sgt. Bill Edwards. Plasensiar was pushing his bicycle in the bike lane when he was hit by a black car, which then sped away.

Plasensiar lay in the street for approximately six hours, attempting to flag down motorists, before someone stopped to help, Edwards said. In the meantime, two men who identified themselves to the victim as security guards took the bicycle and did not return, Edwards said.