Westport Police seek public assistance in near fatal hit and run

Police are actively seeking the public’s assistance in locating witnesses to a hit and run which occurred Tuesday evening on Old Bedford Road in Westport and left a 30-year-old Fall River woman in critical condition.

Westport Police received a 911 call around 8:15 pm Tuesday evening to report a crash and a severely injured woman in the area of 288 Old Bedford Road. When first responders arrived, they located the victim, Stephanie Tripp, face down in the breakdown lane suffering from serious injuries. The victim was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

A preliminary investigation has revealed the victim was walking along the side of the roadway when she was struck by a sedan-style vehicle. The male operator of the vehicle exited the car and apparently told a witness he was sorry and didn’t mean to hit the victim. A witness told the driver to stay on the scene, but as the witness was providing aid to the victim, the driver sped off in an easterly direction on Old Bedford Road. Another witness attempted to follow the suspect’s vehicle, which, according to the witness, was traveling at high rates of speed and passing vehicles by swerving into the opposite travel lane. The witness lost the suspect’s vehicle in the area of Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth.

The vehicle’s last known location was at the corner of Old Fall River Road and Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth at around 8:30 pm. The vehicle may have sustained minor front end damage.

Although officers spoke with several witnesses who remained on scene, there is reason to believe that other witnesses may have seen the crash, the vehicle that struck the victim or may have information about the driver.

If anyone was in the area and saw anything, or have information about this case, they are urged to contact Massachusetts State Police Trooper Phil Giardino at 508-993-1928 or Westport Police at 508-636-1122. Residents can also submit a tip about this case anonymously by utilizing our anonymous text a tip program. To anonymously text a tip to us, text the word “Bristol” to the phone number CRIMES (274637). Then just text us your tip. You can also submit a web-based anonymous tip by going to https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous/da.bristol.ma.us.