Woman identified in fatal hit and run. Fresno police have a description of the car

A woman was killed while walking across the street at a southwest Fresno intersection Friday night, police said, struck by a fast-moving car that drove off in an apparent hit-and-run.

Officers received a call of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle about 7 p.m. at Elm and Grove avenues, just north of Jensen Avenue, according to Fresno Police Lt. Israel Reyes.

The woman was found in the roadway along Elm. First aid was given, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman on Saturday was identified by the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office as 55-year-old Lavonda Mosley of Fresno.

A witness — a driver traveling behind the other car — told officers the car was going north on Elm at a high rate of speed, Reyes said. The woman was crossing to the east side of the street when she was struck..

Initially, the witness wasn’t sure what the car had hit, Reyes said. It was only after they stopped that they saw it was a person.

The car was described as a four-door gray sedan, possibly a Kia Optima, with major front end damage.

The intersection was closed into the late evening as officers continued their investigation.

This story was originally published March 5, 2021 at 9:34 PM.