Columbia Teen Dies In Halloween Hit And Run; Police Offer Reward

COLUMBIA, MD — Police in Howard County are offering a $5,000 reward for information in the Halloween night hit-and-run crash that has turned deadly. Officials said Thursday they were notified that the 17-year-old girl who was hit over the weekend has died at the hospital.

Nursen Esabel Akinci, 17, of Columbia, was hit crossing MD 108 at Phelps Luck Drive, after she stopped her Honda Civic on Phelps Luck Drive to run across the road with another teen to the Royal Farms store, police reported.

A vehicle headed east on Route 108 just east of Phelps Luck Drive hit Akinci at 1:36 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, according to authorities.

Investigators believe a dark-colored sedan, small SUV or crossover vehicle hit her, then left the scene. The vehicle should have damage to the headlight on the driver's side.

Have you seen a vehicle matching this description? If so, investigators ask people to write down the license plate and alert police immediately. Contact the Howard County Police Department at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.