The Lufkin Police Department has updated the story of the hit-and-run accident that took place Friday night on Pershing Avenue.  The 14-year-old Lufkin girl who was critically injured in that accident passed away early Monday afternoon.

Gracie Massey, 14, was pronounced at 12:37 p.m. today at a Houston-area hospital. Massey was flown there for further treatment following the accident.

The Lufkin Police Department is continuing its search for the driver of a “dark colored SUV or van” that struck Massey on Pershing Avenue and then fled the scene. Massey and two other juveniles were walking west on Pershing Avenue in the center turn lane when a vehicle approached them from behind also traveling west. The juveniles told officers that because the vehicle was in the turn lane, they believed it was going to slow down and turn before reaching them.

When they realized the vehicle was not turning, they said, they ran to the other side of the street and yelled to Massey to run. The vehicle struck Massey before she could move out of the way.

The accident happened in the 1100 block of Pershing Avenue near the intersection of Schuller Street around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

“We ask anyone who lives in the area with a surveillance camera to check their footage from around the time of the accident,” Lufkin Police spokeswoman Jessica Pebsworth said. “A detective has made contact with several businesses in the area but as of yet, we have not been successful in retrieving video of the suspect vehicle.”

Anyone with information on the driver’s identity is asked to call the Department at 936-633-0356 or Crime Stoppers at 936-639-TIPS.

 

The Most Dangerous City in Texas for 2022 May Surprise You

According to FBI statistics, Texas had 438 violent crimes and 2,562 property crimes per 100,000 residents as of this year. For every 100,000 residents, there are 224 police officers statewide.

Crime rates are expressed as the number of incidents per 100,000 people.

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