Ottawa police release video of fatal hit-and-run driver, urging suspect to turn themselves in

Ottawa Police Service released a two-minute video on Monday calling on the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run on October 2 to turn themselves in.

The collision occurred pre-dawn at the intersection of Merivale and Hunt Club roads. The victim, a 21-year-old Carleton University biology student and only child, was working toward attending medical school and had recently found "the love of her life," according to a statement from the victim's parents in the police video. The victim's name is being withheld to maintain family privacy.

Constable Fern John-Simon appears in the video and says: "It's not too late to do the right thing. Seek legal advice and turn yourself in." The victim's parents add: "We are devastated by the loss of our only child, who was our everything. Each day we wake up and have to live through her tragic and horrific death again. Each day we have to live in a world without our beautiful daughter."

Police have determined the vehicle is a dark-coloured Ford Escape with damage to the passenger side of the front end, including the fog light below the headlight. Officers are also seeking a red pickup truck whose driver may have witnessed the collision and is not considered a suspect.

Residents and businesses in the area are asked to provide dashcam, surveillance, or doorbell camera video from the time of the collision. Contact the Ottawa Police Service Fatal Collision Investigation Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2345, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppers.ca.