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Grieving family wants hit-and-run driver that killed teen mother found

Posted at 12:07 AM, May 14, 2013
and last updated 2013-05-14 11:09:46-04

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR) - A roadside memorial for hit-and-run victim Nikki West at the intersection of Turner Road and Walmsley Boulevard is growing, and so is the concern that the person who hit her is still out there driving.

Three days later, the burned flares, balloons and stuffed animals are reminders of a Mother’s Day weekend tragedy.

"It makes me sad that a person hit her and left her dead on the side of the road,” says Nikki’s mother Brenda West.  She says Nikki always made comments about how dangerous walking on Turner Road was and in an interview Saturday, she told us the only thing she could figure out is that her daughter was blowing off some steam after arguing with an ex-boyfriend.

"One of her ex-boyfriends was here,” she said. “When she gets mad, she doesn't fight back.  he just walks away."

And that walking away was up a dark road with several hills. It was around 1 a.m. Saturday, with little traffic and most people in bed.

Those factors aren't helping investigators. “Unfortunately a hit-and-run like this is one of the most difficult to solve,” said crime expert and former police captain Steve Neal. “The key is physical evidence."

With no eyewitnesses, Neal says parts of the car that fell onto the road after impact can help police significantly. "If there's headlight or tail light glass, there's that possibility they can match to a manufacturer and ultimately get the make of the car and where that car was sold," he said.

It was supposed to be Nikki's first Mother’s Day but instead she’ll leave behind her 7-month-old son.

Neal says police will exhaust all efforts to identify the driver. "The driver could've been under the influence or had no license or was wanted,” Neal said. “It's a high possibility in this case and I'm sure police are looking at that."

Nikki's mom is begging the driver to turn him or herself in.

A fund has also been established to help the family of a teenager killed in a weekend hit and run. According to the gofundme.com website, the money will be used to help pay for Nikki West's funeral and support her 7-month-old son.