COLUMBIA, Md. — It happened at the intersection of Phelps Luck Drive and Route 108 in Columbia about 1:30 in the morning Sunday when 17-year-old Nursen Akinci and a friend jumped out of her car and crossed the road to go the the Royal Farms store, but they turned back when they learned they’d forgotten their money and that’s when tragedy struck.
“While she was running in the roadway, she was struck by a vehicle that hit her and kept going,” said Sherry Llewellyn of the Howard County Police Department.
Nursen, a Howard High School student, clung to life for three days before losing her battle.
Her father asked not to be photographed as he surveyed the intersection where the accident happened early Thursday.
He says two other people who had stayed behind in the car as his daughter and her friend headed towards the store say the car, which struck her came to a stop for a few seconds before speeding away.
Police say it’s a dark sedan or crossover SUV with damage to the front and a busted driver’s side headlight.
“We have increased the reward for information in this case to $5000, because it is critical that we get information from the public,” said Llewellyn, “We’re asking people not only to take not of a vehicle with front end damage, but also to note the tag number, and if it’s safe and the car is unoccupied, perhaps even take a photo that you can provide to police.”
If you have any information about the damaged vehicle or its driver, you’re asked to call police. That number---410-313-STOP.
