Stark County troopers search for driver who hit and killed 71-year-old woman

WAYNESBURG, Ohio - Authorities in northeast Ohio are searching for the driver who hit an elderly woman on the side of the road and kept going.

Early Tuesday morning, troopers said someone hit 71-year-old Mary Russell on the side of state Route 43 and kept going. The woman was hit by a second vehicle and she died on scene.

"That's terrible to let somebody that is in that type of shape to walk around where there is no protection for them," said Michael Jett. Jett told ONN that he saw Russell walking down Mottice Drive in May. Jett said he ran down the street and found a disoriented Russell.

"When we stopped her, she didn't realize what we were doing I don't think," said Jett.

Russell lived at Indian Run Manor on Mottice Drive.

"She had a squirt gun. She would come chase me down with it. She was ornery. She was a fun soul," said Paul Williams. He lives and works at the manor, which is a Stark Metropolitan Housing Facility.

Williams said it is not an assisted living home, but low income, affordable housing for elderly people.

"She had health care aides and they would come by and help with cooking and take her for walks but they were not there 24/7," said Williams. Williams wasn't sure what health issues or problems Russell had, if any.

He said he can't believe the person that hit her did not stop.

"Put yourself in her family's shoes. To know that mom was hit and just left there," said Williams.

"I think that when they catch him, they ought to hang him. He should have stopped when he hit her," said Jett.

The Canton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating. They do not have a description of the make or model of the car that hit Russell.

The driver of the second vehicle that hit Russell, but is not facing any charges at this time.