Watch above: One man is in custody facing a charge of hit and run causing death after 33-year-old Farida Abdurahman was killed late Monday night. Global’s Nancy Hixt reports.
CALGARY – A 59-year-old man is facing a charge of hit and run causing death in the death of a woman who was run down on Centre Street North on Monday night and left for dead.
Farida Abdurahman, 33, was crossing the street at 43 Avenue in a crosswalk when she was struck by a southbound vehicle at around 11:15 p.m.
Family members told Global News that Abudurahman was walking home after taking the bus from work at Peter Lougheed Hospital. She was hit just a block away from her home.
Paramedics rushed Abdurahman to the Foothills Medical Centre in critical, life-threatening condition, where she later died from her injuries.
The driver fled the scene. A silver Buick Regal was later located in the 6400 block of 4 Street N.E. but the driver was nowhere to be found.
“The actual debris from the collision scene itself, there was certain items that led us to the particular vehicle that we’re looking for,” explained Sgt. Colin Foster, with the Calgary Police Service Traffic Unit.
Police found and arrested a man, who has not yet been named, less than 12 hours after the crash.
He is now facing a charge of hit and run causing death.
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Friends said Abdurahman is originally from Ethiopia and had lived in Calgary for about six years.
She had recently celebrated becoming a Canadian citizen.
Adurahman was planning to return to Ethiopia in September, to see her parents for the first time in over a decade.
“The day before she went to the bank to send some money to her family,” said close friend, Iman, who did not want to share her last name. “Her mom, that was her biggest priority in life.”
Police believe speed is a factor in the crash.
“We have identification from witnesses that the vehicle might have been speeding at the time of the collision, and that forms part of our reconstruction of the actual collision itself,” added Foster.
Colin White and Joey Slobodian rushed to help Abdurahman after she was hit.
“We saw somebody on the side of the road lying, down blood next to her,” White said. “We figured she had just fallen down but as we slowed down we saw her purse and shoes were strewn over the crosswalk.”
White said other drivers did not stop to help.
“One guy is slowly creeping through and drives over her purse and drives over debris; so it was pretty devastating seeing her that way,” he said.
Family and friends are planning a funeral for Wednesday. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help family deal with the costs.
Meanwhile, people who live near the intersection are calling on the city to install lights at the crosswalk, to increase safety.
Two hit-and-runs in one night
Police are also investigating another hit and run that happened in northeast Calgary around the same time.
Police said a woman was hit in the intersection of Martindale Drive and Saddletowne Circle N.E.
The victim suffered minor injuries and was able to get up and walk to a nearby CTrain station to call for help.
The car involved is believed to be a black Chrysler Sebring.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police or call Crime Stoppers.
– With files from Sarah Offin
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