By Judy Reed

It was one year ago last weekend that Erica Sevigny, 26, of Sparta, was killed in a hit and run accident on 14 Mile Road, west of Pennington in Algoma Township, and police are still looking for leads and following up tips.

According to Sgt. Woodway, with the Kent County Sheriff Department, the only new thing to come up since last year was when WOOD-TV did a few stories on the case in January. He said they received 20-25 tips from viewers that saw the story, and received several more at a recent benefit for Erica’s family held at the Sparta Moose Lodge. “We have 20-30 we are investigating now, but nothing real positive yet,” he explained. “But we’re still working on it full force, following up tips and investigating the case.”

Erica was on her way home from work at the Crazy Horse on 14 Mile Road on Saturday, April 3, when she swerved to avoid a deer on 14 Mile west of Pennington. She crashed her fiancee’s truck into a tree, but was unharmed. She got out of the truck and called police, and was on the phone with 911 when she was struck and killed by a hit and run driver just before midnight. Sheriff’s Department investigators believe that the suspect vehicle was traveling westbound on 14 Mile Road, and that it likely did not have a large amount of damage to the body.

There is a possibility that there may have been more than one person in the suspect vehicle due to nearby witnesses overhearing an argument near the vicinity of the crash just after it occurred.

Police later identified red paint flecks found on Erica’s clothing that were either a Vermillian Red or Rio Red. Based on this paint, they are looking for a 1998-2007 Ford F series truck, Ford Explorer, Ford Edge, Ford Escape, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer or Mercury Mariner. But they are not ruling out other vehicles they said.

Police are asking the public for assistance with any information they might have about the suspect vehicle or driver. Silent Observer is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for Erica’s death.

Please notify the Kent County Sheriff’s Detective Bureau at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 with information relating to this crash.