Striking vehicle found in fatal hit-and-run investigation

CALN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Police say they have recovered a vehicle and identified a person of interest in relation to a fatal hit-and-run in Thorndale, Chester County.

The dark grey 2011 Honda Pilot SUV was recovered at a nearby auto body shop. The vehicle was impounded and is being processed for evidence.

The person of interest is identified only as a Chester County woman. She was questioned by police Friday evening and then released.

No charges are pending at this time.

19-year old Ke'asya Gray of Coatesville, an aspiring nurse, was struck and killed by the SUV Thursday night on the 3400 block of Lincoln Highway.

Ke'asya worked the overnight shift at the nearby Dollar Tree store.

It was shortly before 11:00 p.m. when her family says she had been dropped off for work by her boyfriend, but the doors of the store were locked.

She had apparently come back up on the highway when she was hit and killed by a driver who fled the scene without stopping.

Gray was transported to Brandywine Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police were hot on the trail of the driver, and Friday afternoon they released a picture of a badly damaged Honda Pilot they believe hit Gray and killed her.

Caln Twp. Police Chief Joe Elias says, "Ke'asya was small in stature, wearing dark clothing. But the damage to the vehicle, I would be hard-pressed to believe someone didn't realize they hit something."

For the Gray family it is the second tragedy in two months. Ke'asya's 22-year-old sister, Joi'lheta, succumbed to diabetes back in mid-October.

Ke'asya was studying nursing in the wake of her sister's death.

Her brother, Quinnell Gray, explained her ambitions by telling us, "Because her sister passed away with diabetes, and she really wanted to learn about the sickness and help others."

Meantime, Chief Elias says, "We have every reason to believe we have located the vehicle that was the striking vehicle last night when the accident occurred."

Elias confirmed that police have talked to the owner of the vehicle, but explained, "At this point we are still trying to identify who the driver was at the time of the crash."

The woman's attorney, Terrence Marlowe, says, "My client is a person of interest in this case and she's fully cooperating. No charges have been filed. My client has been released. And we're going to continue to cooperate with Caln Township Police."

Police are getting a warrant to search the SUV and examine the clothing of the owner as this hit-and-run investigation moves forward.