The Detroit community is grappling with the loss of a 59-year-old woman who was fatally struck in a hit-and-run incident, as police continue their search for the suspect. According to FOX 2, the accident occurred around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday on Gratiot Avenue near Mapleridge Street. The victim, identified as Donna Chapman, a mother of five and a grandmother, was hit while crossing the street by a black Ford Edge that fled the scene afterwards.

While Detroit police have not yet located the individual behind the wheel, the suspect's vehicle is described as bearing front-end damage from the crash and mounted with a spare tire on the rear passenger’s side, as reported at the scene by WXYZ. Donna Chapman was rushed to a local hospital following the incident where she was pronounced dead.

The gravity of this tragedy is deepened by the fact that this is the third loss for the Chapman family within a span of three years. "Our family is small. We are all we got. Right now, me and my brothers are all we got. It’s 4 of us now. No mama, no grandma. My oldest brother is gone. So, our family's been through a lot," Shanita Chapman, the daughter of the deceased, conveyed her anguish to FOX 2. She also expressed a poignant plea for the suspect to come forward, seeking closure for a family besieged by mourning.

Details surrounding the suspect and the vehicle involved may still be sketchy with CBS Detroit stating that the description of the suspect vehicle is currently unavailable. Even so, the Detroit Police Department's Fatal Squad Unit is urging anyone with potentially crucial information to step forward. The public can relay their tips by calling 313-596-2260 or through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Likewise, contributions can be provided at detroitrewards.tv, adding the case number 2406130262.

To further incentivize the public's assistance, a reward of $500 is being offered for information that could lead to resolution in the wake of this devastating event.