Coroner: 93-year-old woman in Bristol hit-and-run died of natural causes

BRISTOL, Pa. (WPVI) -- The coroner's office has ruled that a Bristol woman who died on her 93rd birthday after a hit-and-run vehicle slammed into her house, died as a result of natural causes not a result of the accident.

According to the coroner's report, 93-year-old Jenny Russo showed no evidence of trauma. It was determined that her death was brought on by end-stage lung disease.

Meanwhile on Friday night, police questioned the owner of the pickup truck suspected in the hit-and-run however no charges have been filed.

The truck, with visible front-end damage, was found on the 500 block of Bath Road in Bristol Borough. Debris recovered from the accident scene matched the damage on the truck, police say.

The 20-year-old owner of the truck went to Bristol Township Police voluntarily.

Authorities say he's been cooperating with their investigation but for now he has been released.

"He expressed remorse, like I said, he's been cooperative through the entire process," said Acting Chief Ralph Johnson, Bristol Township Police.

Police believe it was that truck that slammed into the victim's home early Friday morning. The driver left the scene and the elderly homeowner died a short time later.

Her son, Ron Russo, explains, "All of sudden the whole house just shook, it just shook so I quick look outside the door, and I see a speeding truck going away from me."

Ron was in the front bedroom, he immediately ran to the back bedroom where his elderly mother Jenny was.

He tells us, "I got back there and I see the dresser drawers just leaned over, ready to fall on top of her. And there was cold air coming in. There was a gaping hole right into the wall. I had to get that cold air to stop, so I picked her up and put her into my bedroom, which is the next room over, so there's warmth in there."

Jenny Russo was frail, only weighing 58 pounds, and was on hospice care. Firefighters moved her hospice bed into the still warmer living room. But her son thinks the circumstances proved too much, and hasten her passing.

"She passed away like probably about 45 minutes after that we moved her over," Ron said.

Friday was Jenny Russo's 93rd birthday. The petite woman who raised two sons in the house beginning in 1954 passed away among religious prints and statues that gave her comfort.

"Mr. Russo told me that one of the family members of the driver responded to their home with an apology and they are very gracious to him and accepted it," said Chief Johnson.

Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler will meet with his team next week, seeing where the case goes from here, and then it will be determined if charges will be filed.