Driver in Markham hit-and-run drove with woman on hood of car for 50 metres, police say

York Regional Police released images of a suspect vehicle wanted in a hit and run in Markham on Feb. 19. (York Regional Police)

Police have now released photos of a suspect vehicle wanted in a hit-and-run in Markham that left a 19-year-old woman with “life-altering injuries” on Thursday afternoon.

Police were called to the intersection of Denison Street and Featherstone Avenue, east of McCowan Road, shortly after 3:40 p.m. for a collision.

After reviewing footage of the area, York Regional Police say the pedestrian had just left a bus and was crossing the intersection, heading northbound, when she was struck by a vehicle that had gone through the red light.

“This vehicle continued with the victim on the hood of their vehicle for about 50 metres. They would have known that they had struck somebody as they carried her for quite some time,” YRP Cost. Lisa Moskaluk told reporters on Friday morning.

Police say they found various personal items belonging to the victim strewn across Denison to about Kuba Way, Moskaluk added.

“She was taken to a trauma centre where she remains stable but still critical, and will have life-altering injuries,” Moskaluk said.

Police say the vehicle continued to drive in a “dangerous manner” along Denison, heading eastbound towards Middlefield Avenue. When they approached the intersection, Moskaluk said they drove into oncoming traffic to avoid waiting at the red light.

On Friday, police released images of the suspect vehicle, which they describe as an electric blue, four-door Honda Civic, possibly a 2016 to 2020 model, with winter tires with steel rims and “obvious” windshield damage and front end.

“To the driver, we do have a lot of information about your vehicle so far. You made a mistake, your mistake will continue if you do not turn yourself in,” Moskaluk said, urging the suspect to find a lawyer and turn themselves in.

Police are asking anyone with information, or who sees the vehicle come into a repair shop, to contact them.

“This isn’t just an investigation. This is a 19-year-old girl with her whole life ahead of her and somebody making a really poor decision to not stop and help her after striking her. This affects all of us,” Moskaluk said.