Police seek help to ID pickup that struck and killed girl on Flat Rock Road
A day after 14-year-old Arie Phillips died of injuries sustained in a hit-and-run crash Sunday on Flat Rock Road, the Motor Squad Division of the Columbus Police Department seeks information on a pickup truck captured on a surveillance camera.
Arie of Fayetteville, N.C., was pronounced dead at Midtown Medical Center at 7:16 p.m. Wednesday, said Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Charles Newton. Her body was transported to the crime lab in Atlanta on Thursday for an autopsy.
Police Cpl. Rosalyn D. Hall is seeking information from the public on a crimson/burgundy, four-door crew cab pickup with chrome step rails and alloy wheels. The truck has possible damage to the right front tire, fender, hood or windshield area. It was last seen leaving the Kitten Lake Drive area at about 9:15 p.m. Sunday before traveling south on Flat Rock Road.
Arie was struck on the sidewalk by a pickup matching the description about 9:20 p.m. as she walked south in the 6300 block of Flat Rock Road. A witness told police the truck stopped at the Beaver Run and Kitten Lake Drive before it traveled south toward Milgen Road. The driver then swerved the crimson pickup onto the sidewalk and struck the teen before fleeing.
The teen was in Columbus visiting relatives on Easter Sunday. She was in critical condition after she was transported to the hospital .
Anyone with information on the pickup should call Hall at 706-225-4040 in the Traffic Division, Hit and Run Investigations.
Ben Wright: 706-571-8576, @bfwright87
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 9:41 PM with the headline "Police seek help to ID pickup that struck and killed girl on Flat Rock Road."