Police Track Fatal Hit and Run Suspect with Video, Newport Grand Rewards Card

Police identified the victim of the fatal hit and run Saturday night as Ernest G. Jones, 62, and the 33-year-old New York woman charged with leaving the scene was allegedly playing slots at Newport Grand before she ran him over in view of a Newport Police officer.

Jones, who had no permanent address but would be familiar to many Newporters, was reportedly stumbling along the side of the road moments before the accident.

Lt. William Fitzgerald of Newport Police said a nearby officer was flagged down by a female motorist stating there was a drunk person going into the roadway.

The officer, approaching from the opposite direction, saw Jones and began to make a U-turn.

It was then that the officer saw Jones fall into the lane of travel and a car with New York license plates, which police said was driven by Jessica Gosdoski, of Oceanside, N.Y., ran him over and continued on without stopping.

“Obviously, the officer didn’t go after the car and went to the injured,” Fitzgerald said.

But police did have a solid description of the vehicle and police used nearby security camera footage to conclude that the driver was someone coming from Newport Grand.

From there, police discovered her name and contact information through a rewards card issued by Newport Grand. Detectives were able to convince Gosdoski to come to police headquarters and she turned herself in about four hours later.

Gosdoski, who is facing charges of leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury, death resulting, reportedly denies hitting anyone.

She was released on cash bail after an initial appearance in Second Division District Court on Monday and is due to return to court for felony arraignment on Sept. 11.

Police have impounded the car Gosdoski was driving and the investigation is ongoing.