WASHINGTON — Police are searching for a driver they say left a person they hit for dead while fleeing from an officer trying to conduct a traffic stop early Saturday morning.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, an officer noticed someone driving without their headlights on, in the 1600 block of K Street, Northwest around 3:30 a.m.
When the officer tried to pull the driver over, the vehicle failed to stop but continued to travel at a "low rate of speed," according to a MPD press release. The vehicle turned onto 17th and L streets, Northwest, where the police cruiser followed with the siren on.
As the car made its way through the intersection of 15th and L streets, Northwest, the driver hit a person riding a moped, which had the right of way. The driver then fled, leaving the injured moped driver behind.
According to a police incident report, the moped driver was not wearing a helmet when the vehicle hit the moped, causing him to be thrown.
The person on the moped was later identified as 25-year-old Alpha Oumar Kake from Temple Hills, Maryland. He was taken to an area hospital with head trauma, where he died on Oct. 1.
Police say body-worn camera footage from the officer following the driver will be released at a later date.
The driver had yet to be apprehended. The police incident report describes the vehicle as a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Anyone with information is urged to call MPD.
