A 24-year-old man suffered head injuries and numerous broken bones as the result of a hit and run accident in Greenbank early Tuesday morning.

Washington State Patrol Det. Jason Longoria said Nicholas Pettitt was walking southbound on the northbound shoulder of Highway 525 on his way to a bus stop across from the Greenbank Store. A small, dark-colored car without headlights on was northbound and struck Pettitt on the shoulder of the highway.

“There was no indication that the car stopped or slowed after impact,” Longoria said.

Pettitt left his home on North Bluff Road at 6:30 a.m., Longoria said, so he was probably hit at about 6:40 a.m. People driving past called 911 at 6:46 a.m. after noticing debris on the road and then seeing Pettitt off in the grass, waving his arms for help.

Longoria said Pettitt was the only witness to the accident. Both his legs appeared to be fractured, Longoria said. The force of the impact threw the young man up onto the hood of the car, smashing his face into the windshield and knocking his shoes off. Longoria said he didn’t know how serious the man’s head injuries were.

“From all indications,” Longoria said, “it looks like he was walking well on the shoulder.”

Medics transported Pettitt to Whidbey General Hospital and then airlifted him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. A hospital spokeswoman for Harborview said he was in satisfactory condition and declined to comment further on his injuries.

Trooper Lance Ramsay said Highway 525 was closed for a short time for the investigation, but it reopened at approximately 9 a.m.

Longoria is asking the public for any information about the suspect. The car may have damage to the passenger-side corner, possible windshield damage and is missing at least one windshield wiper. The detectives collected pieces of the car at the scene, which they hope will help identify the vehicle.

“People should look for changes in normal habits,” he said. “Someone who acts suspicious or changes a routine.”

Anyone with information can call the State Patrol at 675-0710 or 360-658-2588.

(Reporter Eric Berto contributed to this article.)