Coroner IDs Concord Woman Killed In U.S. 101 Hit-And-Run

CONCORD, CA -- A Concord woman who died in a hit-and-run collision Sunday afternoon in Laytonville in unincorporated Mendocino County was identified by the county coroner Tuesday as Lorna Ballard. Ballard, 53, was in a 1965 Ford Falcon traveling south on U.S. Highway 101 at 12:28 p.m. when a 2011 Ford Explorer Sport Trac traveling north veered into the southbound lanes, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The officials said the front of the Ford Falcon collided with the right side of the Ford Explorer and Ballard died.

The driver of the Ford Falcon, a 46-year-old Concord man, suffered major injuries and was taken first to Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits and then flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

According to the CHP, the driver of the Ford Explorer fled from the scene and is still at large.

He is described as a Hispanic man in his 30s who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and 215 pounds with a stocky build and short black hair and brown eyes.

He was wearing a dark-colored shirt and camouflage shorts. CHP officials said that right after the collision, he was last seen walking north on Highway 101.

The collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the driver is asked to call the CHP 24 hours a day at 707-268-2000 or during business hours at 707-923-2155.

• Concord Woman Dies In Hit-And-Run Crash On U.S. 101: CHP

By Bay City News Service

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