Police have located the car in the fatal incident, which killed a 19-year-old mother and seriously injured her 23-month-old child, but they have yet to charge anyone with a crime.
SPRINGFIELD — Police have yet to make an arrest in connection with Friday's fatal hit-and-run incident on Sumner Avenue, which claimed the life of a 19-year-old mother and seriously injured her toddler, according to Springfield Police Lt. David Martin.
Ashley Ballester was struck while crossing the busy Forest Park thoroughfare near the intersection of Lester Street at about 8:30 p.m. Friday, police said. Ballester was pushing her young daughter in a stroller at the time of the incident.
The child, who turns 2 next month, was thrown from the stroller and injured, but an update on her condition was unavailable early Monday. As of Saturday, the child was being treated in Baystate Medical Center's pediatric intensive care unit, according to police Officer Robert Kalin, the traffic bureau investigator handling the probe.
Police said they recovered the vehicle involved in the fatality, a white Ford, but have not yet charged anyone. "We are working on leads. We do have the car in custody and we are working with the owner of the car," Kalin said Saturday.
Police said Ballester, who lived nearby at 24 Lester St., was thrown into the air after being struck by the Ford, then a second a vehicle. The Ford fled the scene, but the second vehicle stopped, police said. The Ford was found several blocks away, said police Lt. Robert Moynihan, adding that the incident occurred at dusk.
MAP of fatal hit-and-run scene in Springfield: