Overview
- New Bedford police said the SUV involved was identified, located and seized Thursday afternoon, calling it a critical breakthrough.
- Authorities have not identified the vehicle’s owner, and it is not clear whether a suspect is in custody.
- Officials said 33-year-old Nicolasa Ventura Colaj was struck just after midnight Jan. 1 while crossing Acushnet Avenue after leaving a church gathering with her family.
- The driver fled the scene, and Massachusetts State Police are investigating alongside New Bedford police and the Bristol County district attorney’s office.
- Community leaders describe Colaj as a mother of three originally from Guatemala, and neighbors are raising funds as police continue to seek tips from the public.