Authorities are still searching for a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning on Interstate 55 in Ste. Genevieve County that left a Perryville woman dead.
According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Shirley M. Rollet, 81, died as the result of injuries she suffered when the pickup she was a passenger in was struck from behind by another car and left the roadway, striking a guardrail.
After the accident, the driver of the other vehicle reportedly fled the scene.
A family member told the Republic-Monitor on Monday that Rollet suffered internal injuries in the accident, including a punctured lung, and died en route to a nearby hospital.
The accident occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. near the 157 mile marker on I-55, when a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 driven by Lori A. Rollet, 57, also of Perryville, was struck from behind by a 2010 Ford Fusion.
Both vehicles were traveling northbound at the time of the accident near the Bloomsdale exit, and the impact caused Rollet’s vehicle to travel off the right side of the roadway and strike a guardrail.
The Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post Sunday morning that the driver of the Fusion — described as a “skinny black male” — was seen fleeing the scene in the direction of Bloomsdale and advised local residents that he was suspected to have injuries from accident and if they spotted an individual matching the description, to not approach the suspect but to contact the authorities with his location.
After the accident, Shirley Rollet was transported by Ste. Genevieve County Ambulance to Mercy Hospital Jefferson, where she was pronounced dead at approximately 6:31 a.m.
The pickup suffered extensive damage in the crash and was towed from the scene by Perry County Towing. The Fusion was ruled a total loss and was towed away by Stuppy’s Towing of Ste. Genevieve.
