SANDUSKY, OH— Investigators with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office are looking for information that could help explain the death of a 57-year-old woman killed in a hit-and-run on Sunday.
Around 3:15 a.m., the department received a report of a woman lying on the highway next to her SUV.
A driver who came across the scene stopped to see if she was okay, but then explained that his cell phone was not working. He proceeded to an exit on Rt. 60 and had the employee there call authorities, reporting that the victim had clearly died.
“The vehicle was immediately adjacent to the body parked on the berm,” Sheriff Paul Sigsworth explained.
“The vehicle had no lights on and was shut off but it was found to be fully operational by the officers on the scene,” Sigsworth explained.
“There could be a lot of speculation about this. What we intend to do and will continue to do is gather the facts as we know them and report them to the coroner. “The coroner will make the final determination as to the manner and cause of death,” Sigsworth said.
The victim was identified as a Lorain County resident.
On Tuesday, authorities did not release her name, but her immediate family was notified.
“The investigating officers on the scene discovered a large amount of evidence, which they reviewed. We will continue to analyze that and follow up on any and all leads we receive in order to determine what happened as accurately as possible,” Sigsworth stated.
The sheriff says the 911 caller’s vehicle was examined, and there was no evidence that they were involved.
They told authorities in the 911 call that because it was so dark outside, they had to swerve to avoid where she was lying in the westbound driving lane of the highway.
A second 911 caller, who is thought to live in Chicago, reported driving past the scene at around 70 mph and moving over into the passing lane as they approached.
However, investigators believe the person who hit her was aware of what they had done.
“We suspect there could be damage. There could also be evidence that the vehicle was involved in this incident.”
“We believe so, you know, regardless of what may have occurred we just want to talk to anybody that could have been involved in this, anybody that may have witnessed it, anybody that may have been in the area about that time of the morning,” according to Sigsworth.
He is asking anyone with information that can help explain what happened, or anyone who may have seen anything on Rt. 2 near the Lorain/Erie County border around 3 a.m. Sunday, to call investigators with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
