Motorists drive over police markings at the intersection of Northeast 72nd Avenue and Vancouver Mall Drive, where two people were struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Sunday evening.Photo Gallery
Police looking for pickup driver, possibly the driver of a second vehicle
A second pedestrian injured Sunday night in a fatal hit-and-run crash has died, Vancouver police said today.
Irina Gardinant, 28, of Vancouver was taken to an area hospital with critical injuries, but police announced this morning that she died.
Raisa Mosh, 45, of Vancouver was identified by police as the pedestrian who died at the scene after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Vancouver Mall Drive at Northeast 72nd Avenue. The crash was reported shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday.
Police looking for pickup driver, possibly the driver of a second vehicle
The third pedestrian with the group, identified as Mosh’s 12-year-old son, was not injured in the crash.
A white pickup took a quick left turn from Northeast 72nd onto Northeast Vancouver Mall Drive, striking the pedestrians, who were in the crosswalk, according to police.
Investigators are looking for the pickup, which they say is similar to a Toyota Tacoma, made between 2005 and 2009. The vehicle is likely damaged and is missing parts of its grille. Additionally, Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp said police are looking for a full size black pickup that went through the intersection shortly after the crash, but left the scene.
“It’s possible that (the black pickup) may have hit somebody as well. We don’t know,” Kapp said. “We don’t have any witnesses that say the black truck hit anyone, but we don’t know for sure.”
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call 911 or the Vancouver Police Tip Line at 360-487-7402.
An initial report that there was a fourth pedestrian in the group was inaccurate, Kapp said.
“We initially thought there was four (in the group),” Kapp said. After the crash, Kapp said, “a lot of people came on the scene … it was pretty chaotic.”
Mosh and Gardinant were leaving a baby shower at the time of the crash, said Petr Zavotorniy.
They were active members of First Slavic Baptist Church “Emmanuel” and participated in a lot of youth events.
“It’s a real tragedy for us,” said Zavotorniy, choir director at the church.
Mosh and three of her children were part of the choir, including her son who was with her at the time of the crash.
Gardinant was a Sunday school teacher with a 2-year-old daughter, according to church member Mark Zizokian.
Both had emigrated from Moldova, where the women had first met, Zizokian said.
Mosh’s neighbor Antonia Kotikova, described Mosh as “a beautiful mom.”
“I’ve been crying, crying, crying all night,” she said. “It’s very hard.”
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