Investigators continue to seek tips in Sunday’s fatal hit-and-run and ask people with information to call the Vancouver Police Department at 360-487-7402. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for any information that leads to an arrest in the case. Tipsters can remain anonymous. People can submit tips online at Crime Stoppers; text 823HELP followed by the tip to 274637; or call 503-823-4357.
The registered owner of a truck allegedly involved in Sunday night’s fatal hit-and-run refuses to speak with police detectives, investigators said Wednesday.
Others associated with the truck’s owner also are not cooperating with investigators, police said. Concealing or destroying evidence in a crime is illegal.
Detectives said the registered owner and several others may have been watching the NFC championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night at a residence in the 9900 block of Northwest 26th Avenue. After the game ended, they might have gone to a residence in the 8700 block of Northeast 27th Avenue. The game kicked off at 3:30 p.m. and ended by 6:50 p.m. The crash was reported around 8 p.m.
Sunday night, Raisa Mosh, 45, and Irina Gardinant, 28, were in the crosswalk on Northeast Vancouver Mall Drive at 72nd Avenue when a white pickup truck took a quick left turn from 72nd Avenue, struck the women and fled the scene, police said. Mosh died at the scene and Gardinant died later at an area hospital.
A third pedestrian with the group, Mosh’s 12-year-old son, suffered minor injures in the incident.
Following the collision, Vancouver police launched a public campaign to find the white pickup, as well as a black pickup that went through the intersection shortly after the crash.
Tuesday night, detectives with the Vancouver Police Department’s Traffic and Major Crimes units served a search warrant at Larkspur Place Apartments, 7609 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, and seized a white pickup with front-end damage from a garage associated with apartment unit D27. The pickup is being stored in a secure evidence facility. Friday morning, the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team will process the pickup for evidence.
Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said investigators still have not located the black pickup or its driver.
Irina Germanova, Mosh’s niece, spoke on behalf of her aunt’s family and the family of Gardinant on Wednesday.
“We’re glad that they found the truck and we’re very thankful to the community for helping out with the investigation,” she said. “We’re also thankful to the (Vancouver) police department for their tireless efforts.”
She also thanked the hospital and the Evergreen Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel.
“Everyone we’ve worked with has been absolutely wonderful,” Germanova said.
A memorial for Mosh and Gardinant is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Word of Grace Bible Church in Battle Ground. The public is invited to attend.
