Woman laying in the street killed in Morris Heights hit-and-run; police search for driver
The NYPD says it happened around 11:47 p.m. along West 174th Street near Macombs Road.
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A 44-year-old woman was fatally struck by a car late Wednesday night in Morris Heights.
The NYPD says it happened around 11:47 p.m. along West 174th Street near Macombs Road. The woman was lying on the ground when an unknown vehicle hit her and drove off.
Surveillance video shows the unidentified woman combing through garbage bags on the sidewalk when she suddenly lowers to the ground in the street in front of a parked car. It's unclear how long she was on the ground before an SUV made a turn into a driveway where she was laying and drove over her.
The driver stopped for a second but did not get out of the car, then continued in the direction they were heading in.
"I came out when I heard the screech and the bang, what I really thought was someone got shot. I heard the bang, and I was like 'What's going on?' When EMS showed up, it was a scene I didn’t expect,” said Louis Hernandez.
People who live on the block say the street is dark at night, and drivers' views are obstructed when making the turn into the driveway.
“This is a blind spot, is the biggest issue, when the cars are backing up the gate obstructs the view, you have to have a third of your car out before you can see and by then you’d done hit or done something," said Chris Barrow, who lives nearby where the accident happened.
The victim was taken to SBH Health System with severe trauma to her body and was pronounced dead shortly after.
Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
