Early this morning, a tragic event unfolded near John Glenn International Airport when a young woman lost her life in a hit-and-run incident. The Columbus Division of Police has confirmed that 21-year-old Nakia Lawrence was struck and killed while crossing Stelzer Road. The emergency call was placed at approximately 4:30 a.m., with police and medics rushing to the scene. Tragically, Lawrence was pronounced dead shortly after they arrived at around 4:44 a.m. The driver involved in the incident did not remain at the scene, and as of yet, authorities have not been able to identify the type of vehicle involved.
According to an NBC4i report, Lawrence was crossing the road in the southbound lanes when she was hit. This area is known to hold risks for pedestrians, especially in the early hours before daybreak. While the police have yet to determine exactly which direction the vehicle fled, they are actively searching for leads and have appealed to the public for information. The authorities are urging anyone who can provide details to come forward and assist in the investigation.
The Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit handles the case, delving into evidence and witness accounts to piece together the unfortunate events. Nakia Lawrence's sudden death highlights an ongoing concern with pedestrian safety and hit-and-run crimes in the area. Efforts to enhance safety measures have been discussed in the past, but incidents such as this serve as a grim reminder of the work that still needs to be done to protect the community's walkers and runners.
Information gathering is key in cases like this, and the police have provided contact numbers for those who can help. They've asked "anyone with information about the crash" to reach out by calling Columbus police at 614-645-4767 or submitting an anonymous tip to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. This plea was reported by the The Columbus Dispatch and echoed across other news outlets, including WBNS.