On Jan. 17, 59-year-old Luz Marina Roa was attempting to walk across Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton when a driver struck her and fled.
She was pronounced dead on the scene. During a press conference Friday, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) asked for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. The car that struck her is described as a light blue 2012-2015 Volkswagen Passat. Police hope the vehicle’s distinctive color and damage will help trigger somebody’s memory, Sgt. Elijah Kinser said. The car sustained damage to the left front air dam/bumper area, left front headlight assembly and had a missing left side-view mirror.
According to police, at about 6:22 p.m. that evening, the driver was traveling westbound on Veirs Mill at Ferrara Avenue, and Roa was crossing Veirs Mill from north to south when the driver struck her.
Roa used to talk about how dangerous the intersection was, her sister told MyMCM. Roa loved to help and care for others, she said. She was a medical assistant, a certified nurse assistant and a certified geriatric assistant. A memorial GoFundme online fundraiser has been set up for Roa and more than $900 has been raised as of Friday afternoon.
Sgt. Kinser urged witnesses to come forward. He said many people stopped or were in the area at the time of the incident but did not remain on the scene.
Anyone with information should call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620 or 240-773-8477. Callers can also contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-8477. Callers can stay anonymous. Crime Solvers of Montgomery County offers a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest.
Father Brian Jordan, Pastor at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, urged the suspect to come forward.
Police ask for help identifying driver who hit and killed pedestrian Luz Marina Roa on Jan. 17 and fled the scene here at Veirs Mill Road and Ferrara Ave in Wheaton.
Car described as light blue 2012-2015 Volkswagen Passat. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/2IiqnjT5pg
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) January 28, 2022
