Witnesses recount deadly hit and run at Oshtemo Walmart
OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Witnesses recount the tragic moment a man ran into a 65-year-old woman in an Oshtemo Township Walmart parking lot, killing her.
The 32-year-old driver intentionally hit the woman and did not know her, according to investigators.
- Previous reporting:Woman dies after being intentionally hit in Walmart parking lot
On Wednesday, car parts remained scattered across the parking lot. A woman pushing her child in a stroller told News Channel 3's Allie Jennerjahn what she witnessed.
She said she saw a maroon car parked near the back of the parking lot, then watched as it began moving and accelerating in the direction of the woman. She said the driver struck her with his car and took off on foot.
Another witness Kristen Topp said she was inside the store when a woman came inside screaming for help.
"I heard a lady come in screaming saying someone was dead in the parking lot," Topp said.
She said she then rushed outside to the 65-year-old woman, who was laying face down on the ground.
"I knew as soon as the paramedics got there and they put her fingers up there and they shook their head no, that she had passed. But when they turned her over again to put the oxygen on her, she was breathing and trying to move and they told her not to move," Topp said.
Deputies said the woman was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
After the suspect fled, witnesses said two men chased after him onto 9th Street.
Co-Owner of West Main Nutrition Lori Farrell saw the men run by and recorded the video of the chase on her cell phone.
"It was fast. It was within a minute. It was a lot. I stopped recording right as the police officer got to him because I still didn't know at that time that he was the guy. It was just a lot of stuff happening," she said.
In the video you can see the two men pointing. Farrell said they're pointing police in the direction of the suspect.
"We all go to the grocery store. We all go to different stores, and it could easily have been anybody. It could have been a group of people and it's just frustrating when somebody is just going to do something that should be completely safe, and they don't get to go home. It's a horrible situation," Farrell said. "Nobody should ever fear their life walking through a parking lot."
In a statement to News Channel 3, a Walmart spokesperson said, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred in the parking lot of our Kalamazoo store.Our hearts are broken for the victim’s family. We will continue working closely with law enforcement as they investigate the incident.”
Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker said someone reported a car was driving around a Meijer on Monday and tried to hit a pedestrian.
No one was injured.
Police are unable to confirm if the two incidents are related.