Quincy, Massachusetts, police are asking for the public's help to track down the suspect who hit an elderly woman in a crosswalk and then left her there with critical injuries earlier this month.
The victim died from her injuries at the hospital Sunday, ten days after the crash.
Police say 78-year-old Akiu Ngo was pushing a cart across the road at the intersection of Dimmock Street and Burgin Parkway when she was hit by a car at about 4:45 pm on December 3rd. The driver allegedly stopped to check damage to his vehicle, and then took off, while others stopped to help the victim.
"It's just not the right thing to do, in any stretch of the imagination, whatever his reasons," said Dimmock Street resident Stephen Baer.
Even police say the driver's indifference and lack of concern for a human life make this case more heartbreaking than others.
"It does make it more tragic," said Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan. "I don't understand why someone would leave a human being lying in the middle of the road."
Police say the driver is described as a white male in his 40s or 50s, with grey hair, wearing khakis and a plaid shirt. They say at the time of the crash, the victim was disobeying the flashing red hand signal, and the driver had a green light.
Massachusetts
The latest news from around the state
"Had only they stayed I'm sure we could work this through," said Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey. "But leaving the scene of an accident creates higher urgency for us and the public."
Police say there isn't any surveillance video and evidence is limited. Now they're asking auto body shop employees from Rhode Island to Maine to contact them if they've seen the suspect vehicle described as a boxy, black station wagon, possibly a Volvo, with front end damage.
Neighbors are hopeful this final push for the public's help will bring Ngo's family some answers in time for the holidays.
"My heartfelt sympathy and sorrow for their loss," said Baer.
Police say they checked businesses, MBTA buses, and the MBTA garage for surveillance video and found nothing. If you live in the are of the crash and have home security system, you should contact Quincy Police.
