Police Search For Driver In Fatal Hit-And-Run Crash
HARFORD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- State police are looking for the driver of a hit-and-run crash that killed a 49-year-old woman. It happened on Rt. 40 and Old Philadelphia Road.
Christie Ileto explains the intersection is no stranger to close calls with pedestrians.
Drivers say pedestrians are constantly crossing the busy intersection when they're not supposed to and Jennifer Butler was no exception.
WJZ obtained surveillance video of the last images of Butler walking with her daughter, leaving Forty Liquors on Route 40. She attempted to cross the busy intersection in the dark.
Seconds later, her body catapulted into the air, hit by one car and run over by a second.
A flurry of emergency calls followed.
"The first vehicle luckily stayed on the scene after he hit the 49-year-old woman, yet there was a second vehicle involved," said Elena Russo, Maryland State Police.
But the second driver was nowhere to be found.
"Outside I see a lot of police cars, fire trucks," said Opindell Gill.
Gill owns Forty Liquors. His cameras caught Butler's final moments after selling her a lottery ticket.
"Shocked. She had just left," Gill said. "And she goes outside and then...the accident."
Rt. 40 is a heavily traveled road and at this particular intersection, there are no crosswalks, there's poor lighting and that's one of the reasons why police believe the drivers may not have seen Butler when she was trying to cross.
"People always cross here; people are always walking around here," said Christopher Love. "This area is completely not pedestrian friendly because they have nothing here."
But questions police want answered are why was Butler crossing in incoming traffic and who was driving the second car that ran her over?
No charges have been filed against the known driver. Police say the second driver was likely driving a dark colored SUV. Anyone with information is asked to call state police.
