Charges have been laid in a hit-and-run in the Stratford Walmart parking lot that left a 63-year-old woman dead.
Hedwig Sophia Harris, who was commonly known as Evelyn, was hit by a white Volkswagen Routan in the parking lot at 920 Ontario Street shortly after 11 a.m. on Sunday. She was rushed to hospital where she later died from her injuries.
The vehicle involved did not stop after hitting Harris. Instead, it exited the parking lot turning left onto C.H. Meier Boulevard toward Devon Street. Following the incident, police shared two surveillance images of the suspect vehicle through social media.
Nearly six hours after taking off from the scene, the driver of the vehicle turned herself in to police at 4:30 p.m.
A 30-year-old Stratford woman has now been charged with accident resulting in death. She has been released from police custody and will appear in court in relation to the charge on June 17.
Police are opting not to release the accused woman's name due to safety concerns for her and her family.
"With the public outcry that is already out there on social media, we thought it might be best to protect her from any further backlash to ensure her safety and well-being," said Constable Darren Fischer.