Vanessa Amend Killed in Hit-and-Run on SH 183 in Fort Worth, TX
UPDATE (December 21, 2022): Police have reportedly located and arrested hit-and-run suspect Ajdin Dervisevic on a charge of accident involving death.
Fort Worth, TX — December 4, 2022, 27-year-old Vanessa Amend was hit and killed by a vehicle after another crash on State Highway 183 in Fort Worth.
Authorities say the incident happened around 3:25 a.m. along southbound Texas 183 near the Highway 360 off-ramp. Preliminary investigation suggests Amend was involved in an unrelated crash in that area; when she exited her vehicle to survey the damage she was hit by a passing car that was uninvolved in the first wreck.
Amend was fatally injured by the car, which left the scene without stopping.
The investigation is ongoing as police seek information about the hit-and-run vehicle, described by witnesses as a "newer" white Ford Mustang with dark-colored racing stripes.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Vanessa Amend Hit-and-Run in Fort Worth
UPDATE (December 21, 2022): I'm relieved to see in the news that the hit-and-run suspect was found and taken into custody. However, it's still important to learn why he fled from the crash in the first place. As I mentioned before, the answer to that question could mean there's more to investigate. The main priority should be to get the whole story; any other action would largely depend on what that story is.
ORIGINAL: It's always frustrating to see hit-and-run incidents in the news, yet it seems new ones pop up every day. Obviously apprehending the driver is paramount, so it's vital that police remain diligent and community members come forward with any information they can provide. There seem to be few clear immediate leads, but it's encouraging that authorities seem to know the approximate make and model of the vehicle they're looking for. That's far more than they often have to work with at the start, but they'll need more.
That's where community involvement comes in: If people are kept up to date on what police know they can use those details to keep an eye out for the vehicle and its operator. It may take some time, but if they keep at it there is often a positive resolution--either when the offender sees the accident they were in on the news or when someone else recognizes them from reports. We even heard about a recent arrest where a hit-and-run suspect was caught in another county, almost a year after the incident, when a stranger at a bar heard her bragging about getting away and called a tip line.
Once the Fort Worth suspect is in custody hopefully investigators will find out what compelled them to abandon the scene and the person they fatally injured. They might simply have panicked, but in many cases something else (illegal contraband, outstanding warrants, drunk driving) contributed to their decision. Only time and thorough investigation will tell, but as long as everyone cooperates I'm hopeful justice can be served.
