The White Settlement Police Department responded to a welfare check at a local restaurant parking lot on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 11:13 p.m. Officers were alerted by a concerned citizen who noticed a gray Kia Forte with extensive front end, hood, and windshield damage, and the driver slumped over the steering wheel.
Upon arrival, an officer found a lifeless body in the front passenger seat and detained the driver for investigation. Emergency services confirmed the passenger's death. The driver claimed to have hit an animal in Dallas, not notifying authorities and continuing to the parking lot.
The department notified the Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Prairie Police Department, Arlington Police Department, and the Fort Worth Police Department to identify a possible location where this incident occurred. A regional broadcast was also distributed to area Dallas/Fort Worth police agencies. At this time, no area law enforcement agencies have reported a hit and run or pedestrian crash in their respective cities.
Detectives believe the impact was so severe, that the pedestrian was thrown inside the vehicle and came to rest on the passenger seat.
A Flock Safety Alert placed the vehicle in Arlington at 6:01 p.m. The detectives estimate the vehicle arrived at the restaurant parking lot between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m., though the call came in at 11:13 p.m.
The driver faces criminal charges pending review by the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. The department is working to determine the exact crash location, and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the deceased and cause of death once next of kin are notified.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Steven Person at investigator@wspd.us or 817-246-7070. The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with crime scene processing and evidence collection.
