3 things you should know when sharing information with Crime Stoppers
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INDIANAPOLIS – A teenager is left motherless after a woman was killed in a hit-and-run accident in the city’s north end.
Dominique Berryhill, 32, known as “Domi,” was hanging out with friends near Riverside Park on Sunday night.
“If you had a problem, she would come and get you,” said Berryhill’s cousin Charmika Dillard. “She was a real ball of joy.”
According to her family, Berryhill was an outgoing, funny and pleasant person. She leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter and a large family. Dillard said there was never a dull moment with her cousin. Before the hit-and-run accident, her mother worked and looked after her parents.
“It’s like everyone is missing a piece,” Dillard said. “There are so many memories of her that I can’t just say one thing. We’re just so hurt because she has a daughter and her daughter is so precious.”
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Indianapolis Metropolitan Police responded to a report of an injury crash in the 2800 block of Riverside Drive East across from Riverside Park just after 8:15 p.m. on August 18, where they found Berryhill dead in the street.
Police found a person traveling at a high rate of speed in the area prior to the crash and believe the driver lost control of his vehicle before hitting Berryhill while she was standing next to a car talking to one of her friends. Police documents show two cars and two other people were involved in the crash.
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Dillard said Sunday her daughter came to show her a live video of the aftermath of the accident on social media. Phone calls from other family members confirmed that something might be wrong, so Dillard drove to the spot where they had seen Berryhill on the road.
“That made it real,” Dillard said. “The car that hit her was still there.”
The driver of the car fled, and no arrests had been announced as of Friday morning.
The latest hit-and-run cases
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police, there have been 20 fatal hit-and-run accidents so far this year.
In 2023, there were 16 for the whole year.
In 2022, there were 21 fatal hit-and-run accidents.
Related: 12-year-old boy dies after collision with car in west Indianapolis
Police told media that the driver who hit Berryhill fled on foot after the accident. A manhunt is now underway for the suspect.
“We are angry. There are a lot of emotions, but we cannot act out of anger,” Dillard said. “We just want justice. We are asking the person who did this to come forward. That’s all. Do the right thing. You left a young woman dead in the middle of the road. She was so loving. The highlight of everyone’s life. No enemies at all. Please come forward.”
On Saturday, August 24, at 7 p.m., a balloon release in honor of Berryhill will take place at the crash site on the corner of 28th Street and Riverside.
The family said the public was welcome.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police are asking anyone with information about the driver who struck Berryhill to come forward and speak with investigators. You can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS.
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
